Employee Spotlight – Sara Ryal
Sara joined the Lewis & Knopf team in 2005. As a senior accounting associate and QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, she fills the role of small business services strategy coach, where she specializes in assisting with accounting system design, maintaining efficient accounting processes, and preparing business and personal taxes. Sara helps clients choose more effective processes for their business, in order to maximize productivity.
What year did you join Lewis & Knopf?
I have been with Lewis & Knopf since 2005—it has been a great 15 years!
Tell me a little about where you attended college and the degree(s) you earned. Any special accomplishments?
I went to Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Wisconsin for just over a year. I was going for an Associate degree in Accounting, but I never finished my degree.
What is your favorite thing about living in Michigan?
I don’t actually live in Michigan—I have been a virtual employee since June 2016. Since 2016, I lived in South Carolina for just under two years and am now living in Minnesota. Prior to moving to South Carolina, I had spent my whole life living in Michigan, though. I still have family there, so I am in Michigan on and off throughout the year. I love where I currently live in Minnesota because of all the beautiful parks and lakes and the wonderful friends that I have here.
Tell me a little about your family.
I am married and have four kids and one grandchild. My three oldest are girls and are older, while my youngest is a five-year-old boy (he is actually another grandchild that my husband and I adopted). We also adopted our two youngest girls as older kids from Malawi, a country in southeastern Africa.
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
I would spend more time with my family and friends and do a lot more reading!
What fictional place would you most like to visit?
I would love to travel to Wonderland.
What is a new skill that you would like to master?
I think it would be so cool to get into mountain climbing.
What do you wish you knew more about?
I wish that I knew other languages.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
I traveled to Malawi when we adopted our two daughters.
What questions would you most like to know the answer to?
I want to know why there is so much hatred and fear of other cultures and races.
What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?
I know how to build a water filter using two five-gallon buckets.
What is the best compliment you have ever received?
My four-year-old once said to me, “You are the most bestest person I know.”
What silly accomplishment are you most proud of?
I can do yoga.
What is your favorite smell?
Northern Michigan—the pines and just the “upnorth” smells.
If you had a clock that would count down to any one event of your choosing, what event would you want it to count down to?
The next vacation with my family!
When was the last time you climbed a tree?
I have no idea—probably ten or so years ago.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
Nsima, a traditional Malawian food.
What was your first job?
I was an office worker for a mortgage company, AmeriMortgage.
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
I would love to be able to fly.