Yudu - March 2016

Ryan Garner, CPA, CGMA “Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another.” ~John Dewey

For the past two years, Ryan Garner, CPA, CGMA, an executive finance officer with Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in Durant, Oklahoma, has helped several friends and colleagues prepare for their first half or full marathons. “I recently traveled to Chicago to watch

a friend run her first full marathon and was fortunate enough to run the last three miles with her,” Garner said. “Another friend will be running his first full [marathon] in Tulsa this month, and I’ll be there to support him as well.” Although Garner’s pursuit of physical

fitness is one of his most significant personal achievements, it has also been one of his greatest challenges. “I was never an athlete growing up. I was

much more content with my head in my book,” Garner said. “As my career took off, so did the number on the scale.” Garner started the Couch to 5K running

program in 2010 and eventually began entering local 5k races. He has now completed a full marathon and several half marathons. He said, “I’m certainly far from perfect

physically, but four years in I feel I’ve achieved a major lifestyle change and hope to help others make a positive change as well.” Fellow OSCPA member Don Williams, CPA, an audit partner with BKD CPAs & Advisors in

Tulsa, said, “Ryan is an ambitious individual, one who is always looking for opportunities to grow corporately and individually and impact others.” Garner, an OSCPA member for 12

years, volunteers on Imagine Durant’s Trail Committee, which is adding miles of walking, running and biking paths. He is also the treasurer of the Jones Academy Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of Durant. Additionally, Garner is a member of the Native American Finance Officers Association and the Association for Financial Professionals. “My goal is to use other opportunities

such as this one to create more awareness, community and opportunity in my hometown,” Garner said. “I could not have achieved my goals

without support from my friends and colleagues and plan to help provide even more avenues in the future to help others achieve their objectives.”