Q&A with Chris Ready, Chief Financial Officer

By August 23, 2018 Engineering News
Chris Ready

Chris Ready, Chief Financial Officer

Q: When did you begin your career at DiPrete Engineering and how has your role evolved over the years?

A: I started with DiPrete Engineering in 2007. I was initially hired as the Controller with a focus on accounting and financial reporting. Over time, I took on additional responsibilities such as contract negotiations with clients, and greater involvement with our overall business strategies. After a few years with the firm, I was promoted to my current role as Chief Financial Officer.

 

Q: Where did you get your passion for accounting and finance?

A: I entered college as a Computer Science major, but quickly realized that wasn’t for me. With the encouragement of a friend, I signed up for Accounting 101 and I immediately “got it”. I went on to graduate with an accounting degree and started working in private industry with a focus on management accounting. Unlike public accounting where the focus is on taxes or audits, management accounting is focused on helping business managers use financial information to drive improvements, which is something I’ve always enjoyed. So much so, that when I pursued my MBA, I decided to concentrate my studies around management accounting.

 

Q: Can you explain the firm’s Lean initiative and the role you play?

A: Lean is a bit of a foreign concept in our industry. In a nutshell, Lean strives to empower the employees who do the work to make improvements to their work. Lean came out of Toyota and is based on simple tools and techniques that help eliminate waste and solve problems. My role with Lean is referred to as the Value Stream Manager, which is essentially the overall coordinator of the firm’s Lean efforts. We started implementing Lean in 2010 and have seen some very impressive efficiency improvements thanks to a dedicated group of staff that has really embraced it.

 

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at DiPrete?

A: The people. We have a great group of hard working and talented people in our organization, and I have an outstanding accounting staff. Dennis DiPrete is also a great boss, he really wants his employees to be happy and has cultivated a great culture for the firm.

 

Q: How do you enjoy spending your time outside of work?

A: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing the drums, and golfing.