lighthouse counsel logo
Building Your Bench Strength

Building Your Bench Strength

January 5, 2021


“Succession planning is not an independent entity. It needs to be related to the organization’s vision and mission and their plans.”

– Dan Ryan

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Dan Ryan, CEO and president of Ryan Partners, discuss succession planning and the importance of building bench strength. Dan explains:

  • which roles  should have succession plans;
  • how to begin succession planning;
  • who’s responsible for succession planning; and
  • what it means to build bench strength.

About Our Guest

Dan entered the talent acquisition world over 20 years ago and founded his firm in 2010.  The firm’s focus started with talent acquisition and has grown to peer group facilitation through Vistage and exit planning through Navix Consultants.   

Dan has earned an master’s of education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, an MBA from Tennessee State University, and a BS in Engineering Physics from Murray State University. He has been an adjunct faculty member for Peabody College and has also taught at Belmont University.

Dan is a frequent speaker at conferences across the country and in many parts of the world. He presented at the International Servant Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA and  the World Training Conference in Mumbai, India in 2014.  He also presented at SHRM Illinois, SHRM Tennessee and SHRM Indiana state conferences.

Dan is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council.

Dan is a past-president of the Franklin Breakfast Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and a past-president of Nashville ACE Mentor. He is the current President of  the American College of Healthcare Executives of Middle Tennessee and is a board member of the Middle Tennessee Workforce Investment Board. Dan is a life member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and serves as the President of the Nashville Sigma Chi alumni chapter.

He is married to Gena and they have two grown sons, Daniel and Matthew, and one grandson, Teddy. In his spare time, Dan enjoys Vanderbilt Baseball as a member of the Champions Circle.

Learn more about Ryan Partners. 

Follow Dan: @StewardLeader