Managing Partner, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlslatercpa
Twitter: @RSlater44
By Samantha Cart
“Stay focused. Learn from others on a daily basis. Always have compassion for people. Surround yourself with people smarter than you.”
Given the chance, this is the advice Rick Slater would offer his 18-year-old self. Even without the opportunity to go back in time, Slater has amassed great success in both his personal and professional life. A corporate tax consultant and managing partner at Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP (DHG), Slater has more than 25 years of tax and business consulting experience, and his leadership has helped DHG become a top 20 national certified public accounting firm. In West Virginia and surrounding states, Slater is known for connecting people and seizing opportunities for his clients.
“I was very driven and motivated to be successful at a young age,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate enough to learn a few talents and execute relationship building along the way.”
While he works tirelessly in what he considers a very rewarding career, the Cross Lanes native once had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. A far cry from the baseball diamond, Slater is also the partner-in-charge of recruiting and has served on the firm’s executive, strategic planning and marketing committees.
He is very proud of his role as an inaugural board member of the DHG Women Forward program, which is aimed at advancing women in the workplace. “As a proud father of two driven daughters, it is important to me to see our females in the firm progress toward management and beyond,” he explains. “I certainly notice a healthy difference across our firm. It’s intentional, it’s relevant, and we believe in it across the DHG footprint.”
In addition to his demanding career, Slater is actively involved in a variety of community and professional organizations, filling the role of board member for many. He is the immediate past chairman and serves on the executive committee of the West Virginia Roundtable, and, appointed by the governor, he currently serves as the vice chairman of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority. Slater also serves as chairman of Vision Shared Inc.’s board of trustees and an active member of the Putnam County Development Authority board and West Virginia University’s accounting advisory board. A proud alumnus, he is a member of the Marshall University Foundation’s board of trustees and past chair of Marshall’s College of Business board. While his service is often focused on his home state and community, Slater is also an active contributor to the American Red Cross due to its global reach, as well as many other philanthropic organizations.
“I have always believed that getting involved and giving back was a part of my professional responsibility, but it also lends to a personal accountability to help our communities whenever I can,” says Slater. “I believe that giving is a highly personal and private endeavor. I prefer to see time and money targeted to specific causes versus general causes, which is typically how I determine how to spend personal time and money.”
Slater’s influence and involvement doesn’t stop with his firm endeavors and his commitments to charitable organizations. In 2011, he spearheaded fundraising efforts that led to $1.2 million being raised in just three months for the installation of new synthetic turf fields at Hurricane High School in Putnam County. “Today those fields are used by our communities, kids, senior citizens and charitable organizations,” he says. “Many great people contributed to that cause. For all of us, we see the smiles on people’s faces as a result of the improvements. It’s very gratifying.”
Slater has no plans to slow down any time soon. His success has not created complacency, and he believes he still has more to accomplish.
According to Slater, his motivation comes from a combination of his love for his family, drive to constantly be successful and passion for moving the Mountain State forward. “West Virginia has been good for my family and me,” says Slater. “I have had several opportunities to leave the state, and some force has always kept me here. West Virginia holds a strong place in my heart.”
1990 – Married wife, Tina, and began job as a tax consulting associate at an international accounting firm
1991 – Passed the CPA exam
1994 – First day in management at an international accounting firm and birth of first daughter, Victoria Nicole
1997 – First day in senior management
1999 – Birth of second daughter, Mackenzie Grace
2001 – Promoted to principal and named a Young Gun by West Virginia Executive magazine
2004 – Joined Simpson & Osborne and appointed vice chair of the WV Economic Development Authority by the governor
2005 – Named CEO of Simpson & Osborne
2007 – Finalized the merger agreement with Dixon Hughes Goodman and named to West Virginia’s Most Powerful People by West Virginia Executive
2010 – Elected to the executive committee of Dixon Hughes Goodman
2013 – Elected chairman of the WV Business Roundtable
2015 – 25th wedding anniversary
2016 – Elected chairman of Vision Shared, Inc.
