The 2008 commencement speaker for Bradford Area High School’s
graduation, to be held at 7 p.m. June 5 in the high school
auditorium, is Bradford native Tyler Ridgeway.
A 1992 graduate of Bradford High, Ridgeway has practiced law as
an attorney, worked as a sports agent, dabbled in politics and
currently is a partner in a 200-person accounting firm in
Philadelphia.
He is a 1996 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University,
obtaining his bachelor of arts degree in labor and industrial
relations with a minor in psychology. He obtained his Juris Doctor
degree in 1999 from the Villanova University School of Law. He
successfully passed both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bar
exams.
Ridgeway’s professional career began in 1999 as an associate
attorney with a Philadelphia based firm, Senior Management Group
LLC, where he specialized in business law, litigation estate
planning and tax, with a concentration in sports management. He
participated in salary and contract negotiations for high-profile
NFL players and coaches and also facilitated sponsorship agreements
with major corporate entities.
Regarding major sponsorship agreements, Ridgeway negotiated with
major corporate entities, including Disney Interactive, ESPN, No
Fear, GT Bicycles, Athletes Direct, THQ, EA Sports and Acclaim
Entertainment. He also managed a large joint venture with Fleer
Trading Card that lead to the first Action Sports trading card
set.
In 2001, Ridgeway chose to leave the practice of law to venture
into the business world. He joined Kreischer Miller, then a
70-person accounting firm in Philadelphia. The firm has grown in
size to currently house 200 professionals, making Kreischer Miller
the second-largest regional CPA firm in the Philadelphia
region.
In this capacity, he is the youngest professional to ever make
equity partner and, as one of 14 partners, currently leads the
firm’s entire human capital resources (HCR) division and also
focuses on business development efforts for the firm. The HCR
division recruits high-level executives for area companies on an
interim and permanent basis and competes with the leading national
search firms. The division currently ranks in the Top 10 for all
retained search practices in the Philadelphia region. In his
capacity at Kreischer Miller, he actively participates in
leadership positions within Pennsylvania Regional Biotech,
Association for Corporate Growth, Greater Philadelphia Senior
Executive Group, Philadelphia Human Resources Professional Society
and currently serves on the Finance Committee for the Doylestown
Biotech Center and Institute for Hepatitis B Research.
Over the years, Ridgeway has also worked extensively in
politics, working as campaign manager for state Rep. Bernie O’Neill
and as a three-time elected Bucks County committeeman. He is also
proud to have worked at Comcast-Spectacor (Home of the 76ers,
Flyers, Phantoms and the Entertainment Arena). In addition, while
attending law school, he was twice elected by his classmates to
represent them on the Honor Board. In 2003, he received the Dale
Carnegie Sales Advantage “Highest Award for Achievement.” He has
also been recognized in the Philadelphia region for various article
contributions and speaking engagements, focusing on topics from
executive compensation to “The Value of your CFO.”
In 2007, Ridgeway created the “Tyler Ridgeway Scholar Athlete
Leadership Award,” given to a graduating Bradford High School
senior. It was created as a way to give back to the high school and
town that helped define him as an individual and future business
professional. While he lives in Philadelphia, he will always be a
Bradfordian and remains proud of his upbringing.
While at Bradford Area High School, Ridgeway graduated as
salutatorian of his class, was senior class president, lettered in
three varsity sports (football, basketball and baseball) and was
named Big 30 Scholar-Athlete after his senior season. As a result
of these accomplishments, it was his decision to honor a graduating
senior each year who most similarly exemplifies that hard working,
persistent work ethic to excel in sports, academics and leadership
positions.
Ridgeway’s parents, Dennis and Nancy, both taught in Bradford
for 35 years. Dennis Ridgeway taught Industrial Arts Technology
within the Bradford Area School System for 35 years, retiring in
2003. Nancy Ridgeway taught nursery school at Wee World. They
currently reside in Fredericksburg, Va.
Ridgeway currently resides in Bryn Mawr with his wife Emily and
their 5-month-old daughter Mia Taylor.
