Professional, community, and civic organizations: Rotary Club Member, Renewing Minds Foundation Founder, Central Church of Christ Deacon of Benevolence and Security, REV Foundation Treasurer, Thomson Reuters Onvio Advisory Board Member, McCracken County High School Mountain Bike Booster Club Treasurer, Western KY Youth Camp Counselor, KYCPA Circle of Trust Member What initially inspired you to pursue your profession? Prior to joining Shelton & Associates and founding CS Business Consulting, I spent 12 years in law enforcement, leading several teams in the Paducah Police Department, Drug and Vice, and SWAT. During that time, I earned instructor and trainer positions in over a dozen separate disciplines and teams. Wayne Shelton, the founder of Shelton & Associates CPA approached me about a career change - coming into the firm to lead a major transformation. He saw an industry that was broken; people were leaving the profession in droves. He believed my leadership skill set and passion for developing others were the right set of qualities to transform the firm. I was inspired by this new opportunity to serve others and joined the firm in 2018. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? If your decisions aren’t making you a little nervous, you aren’t making big enough moves. The best healthy balance that can be achieved in business is one where you are living in a state of slight discomfort about making business decisions, but you do it anyway with a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Chase that vision, especially if it scares you. Professional, community, and civic organizations: Murray State Paducah KEA Organization Past Vice President, Kentucky Education Association, Paducah Education Association, Leader In Me Lighthouse Teams, Paducah Public School Math Textbook Decision-Making Committee, PPS TNTP Committee What initially inspired you to pursue your profession? I have known since third grade that I wanted to be a teacher. I was lucky enough to have wonderful teachers throughout my school career. Their passion for teaching really inspired me to make learning fun, exciting, and engaging for all students. What specific steps or strategies did you take to become successful in your field? I was accepted into the PDS (professional development school) program through Murray State University. I was able to do a yearlong internship my senior year that paved the way for future advancement and achievement within the Paducah Independent School District. I also pursed my master’s degree in teacher leadership at Midway University. Have you had any mentors or role models who have influenced your professional growth? Heather Price played a vital role in the growth of becoming the teacher I am today. Heather was inspiring, encouraging, and my biggest cheerleader. Her tenacity, drive, and passion sparked an even bigger flame for future endeavors within education. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? As educators, we are lifelong learners. Personal and profession growth never stops. Sponsored by 40 Under Forty 22 SEPTEMBER 2023 Riley Beth Willett Public Health Director, Graves County Health Department Ryan Conn President, Shelton & Associates and CS Business Consulting Savannah Kelly Beyer Third Grade Teacher, Morgan Elementary School Professional, community, and civic organizations: Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention Secretary, Paducah Citizens Advisory Board Member, Mayfield Graves County Chamber Board Member What specific steps or strategies did you take to become successful in your field? I obtained a Masters in Business Administration in 2017 from the University of the Cumberlands. Getting my masters was something I knew would make me a better employee and professional. I also graduated from the 2017 Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute, Leadership Mayfield Graves County in 2018 and graduated from the Region IV Public Health Training Center in May 2023. All of these different opportunities helped me to get to where I am today and has allowed me to learn what kind of leader I want to be and what weaknesses I need to work on and improve. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? The best piece of business advice that I have ever received has been, that if I have ever been in doubt or struggling, the best thing for me to do is to do the right thing. That piece of advice has never steered me wrong. During the tornado in 2021, I had been the director for four months. The night of December 10th, 2021 was the hardest and most stressful time of my career thus far. That night and many days after, that advice has held true. The response the health department gave and the decisions I had to make, were some of the proudest moments in my career and I believe I held that advice with every decision and every conversation I had throughout that time.
