RON S. WOLLETT JD

Ron has more than 30 years working in both public accounting and industry tax. He spent 23 years in public accounting at large national firms serving businesses from SEC registrants to family-owned businesses. Ron’s clients span a variety of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, construction, public utilities and retail. For the five years prior to joining Schneider Downs, Ron held the position of Chief Tax Officer for a family-owned executive management company that served a number of related operating entities in a variety of industries.

As a seasoned leader and problem-solver, Ron has a strong background of leading multifunctional teams, including multistate and international tax professionals, to provide high-level and insightful service to clients and owners. He has significant experience in C corporation and flow-through entity tax planning, business structuring and re-structuring, accounting methods and periods, various tax and cash flow savings strategies, and tax planning for high-net-worth individuals.

Ron brings years of experience and broad skill set to each client relationship to help clients minimize their tax burden and manage their tax risk.

Professional and Community Involvement

Member—the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Ohio Society of CPAs

Member—the Columbus Bar Association

Member—The James Cancer Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council

Member and Former Chair—Advisory Council for Mentor Ohio

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Do you have a hobby or personal passion? 
I enjoy playing tennis (every Tuesday), working out, spending time with my wife, kids and dogs, anything Buckeye related and working with and on behalf of Mentor Central Ohio.

What was the best advice you’ve ever received? 
A simple phrase that takes me back to Latin class at St. Charles Prep. and has been made famous by more than one movie- “Carpe Diem.”

Who is your role model?
I’ve had many mentors and friends that have provided me counsel along the way.  If I had to pick one, I would pick John Glenn.  I had the pleasure to interact with the Senator from time to time and I was always in awe of how he carried himself, how he took time for everyone and the relationship he shared with his wife Annie.

What was your childhood dream?
I wanted either to play baseball for the NY Mets or be the President of the United States.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your college self? 
Take more time to celebrate every milestone in, and aspect of, life.  Time moves too fast……..

People would be surprised to know that I…
We undertook a total rehab of a historic condo in a building that was the first condo building in Columbus at the beginning of COVID.  We moved in last year and could not be happier (in spite of many headaches along the way).

What is the best or most interesting thing about your career? 
The people I have met along the way.  I have many great friendships near and far.  Living the case study of the collapse of Andersen was also very interesting.

What was your first job? 
Grill cook at Bob Evans.  Still make a mean French toast, just ask my daughter.

Do you have a “motto”? (spoken or unspoken)
“It is what it is.”  I have a plaque given to me by a dear friend and former partner to prove it.  I use this phrase to remember not to dwell on why things may have gotten a bit sideways or not gone my way, but to focus on the fix and/or move on to “next.”

When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do? 
Sometimes, I like to  just dial up some music and either think or not think, depending on the circumstance (queue my wife saying “earphones please!”).

Do you have advice for young professionals?  
Two thoughts: 1. Embrace change and new experiences, they will enrich your professional growth, 2. Try to create fun in all you do, it will make the winding road easier, and more interesting, to navigate.

Ron Wollett

Our Thoughts On

FEATURED

Big Problem: Cybersecurity Defenses Compromised By Employees’ Passwords


Big Thinking: Significant Updates To The Cybersecurity Environment.

Shareholder ERIC WRIGHT has been involved with Information Technology with Schneider Downs since 1983 and oversees the firm’s thriving Technology Consulting and IT Audit & Compliance practices. Through this role, Eric brings extensive experience in assessing IT infrastructure and identifying cybersecurity risk and exposure.
One of our clients felt fairly good about their existing cybersecurity defenses. But they were still afraid of the unknown and newer cyber attack techniques. Through our regular audit procedures, we inquired about their current cyber controls and their confidence in withstanding an attack. We then performed a network penetration test which simulates an external adversary hacking their network. This procedure identified the client's unknown weaknesses in their defenses through a live test. “Within 48 hours, we were able to guess the passwords of close to 10% of their employees, effectively giving us VPN access to their corporate network and certain employee utilities, like email.” Eric said. "We also found that their corporate intranet site was visible over the internet and susceptible to login via the bad passwords. After identifying these issues, we worked with the client to make significant changes to their environment to make it harder for an attacker to break in." Schneider Downs provides Big Thinking and Personal Focus in delivering a variety of services for large and small businesses, both publicly and privately held, as well as nonprofit organizations, government entities and more. Through our commitment to thought leadership and knowledge management, we deliver the solutions our clients need with a personal commitment to service.

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