Dan Ringo, an operations executive, says having a depth of life and work experiences can be an asset when taking the bar exam later in life. Ringo is pictured signing the Oakland County Clerk ledger as a newly sworn-in attorney at 50th District Court in Pontiac.
By Julie Freer
Legal News
Over the course of his professional journey, Dan Ringo has worn many hats from mechanical contracting and engineering to facilities manager at Detroit Public Schools and CEO of his own facility management company.
In every role, he has set his sights on getting the most out of each experience — a priceless attribute when it comes to walking a new path later in life.
After earning his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 2012, Ringo recently returned to his original goal of becoming an attorney, passing the bar exam in July.
Earlier this month, he was sworn-in to the State of Michigan Bar by Judge Cynthia Thomas-Walker of 50th District Court in Oakland County.
“It felt surreal in a way that’s hard to describe,” said Ringo, who just stepped into a new role as vice president of operations and compliance at SEEL, LLC, an energy efficiency program implementation firm.
"I’ve had major milestones before — executive roles, industry leadership positions, national recognition — but being sworn into the Michigan Bar was personal. It represented a 20-year journey that required resilience, sacrifice and a level of commitment far beyond academics. Hearing the oath felt like closing a chapter I refused to abandon and stepping fully into a purpose I’ve carried for decades.”
Ringo grew up in Detroit and joined the Air Force two years after graduating from high school.
“It was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Ringo. “I served as an HVAC/R Journeyman and earned my first degree through the Community College of the Air Force. The Air Force gave me the foundation for everything I’ve accomplished since.”
That foundation, he said, included discipline, precision in how work and people are approached, resilience when life applies pressure, team culture and accountability.
“Those lessons show up in my leadership, my work ethic and even how I studied for — and approached — the bar exam,” said Ringo.
In addition to his work in facilities management for Detroit and Chicago public schools, Ringo also served as executive director for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324, helping negotiate 220 collective bargaining agreements servicing 6,000 members across the state of Michigan.
He started his own company, Ringo Services, in 2016, an integrated facility management company, which was recognized with a Spirit of Detroit Award in 2018 for service to the community by employing hundreds of Detroiters.
It was his time as a union steward, serving on negotiating committees, that spurred his desire to become an attorney. Ringo used the depth of all his experiences to his advantage when it came time to take the bar exam.
“When you take the bar in your 40s or 50s, you’re bringing every job, every challenge and every problem you’ve solved with you,” said Ringo. “My technical background, operational career, and leadership roles taught me how to break complex issues into pieces. That skill translates directly to the bar exam. Experience doesn’t remove the need to study—but it absolutely changes how effectively you study.”
What is the key to balancing full-time work, education, family responsibilities and leadership roles?
“The key is structure and purpose,” said Ringo. “Structure keeps you disciplined. Purpose keeps you energized. There were times when life was heavy —working full-time, raising a family, dealing with personal loss, navigating career shifts — but purpose never left me. You can endure a lot when the mission matters.”
As a contributing writer for Forbes Magazine, Ringo has penned several articles for the publication, including “Passing the Bar Exam Past 50: How Discipline and Persistence Defy Timelines.”
He’s also published a dozen books — from technical manuals on refrigeration and boiler operation to a business memoir titled, “Airman to CEO: From the Boiler Room to the Board Room.”
“I started writing because I wanted to give people insight into journeys that often go untold — especially reinvention later in life,” said Ringo. “My Forbes articles and books became a way to share lessons, wins, and roadmaps with anyone trying to elevate their life or career. … Writing forces reflection. It sharpens perspective. And it lets me contribute something meaningful to industries and people I care deeply about."
Making an impact on the people and organizations around him, throughout his varied journey, has been what he’s found most fulfilling.
“Whether it’s building workforce programs, shaping organizational operations, mentoring people in skilled trades, leading teams, writing or now practicing law — it all ties back to helping someone move forward,” said Ringo. “I’ve worked from the boiler room to the boardroom. The most fulfilling part of my career is helping others climb with me.”
As he looks forward on his career path, Ringo said his legal practice will center on regulatory and organizational compliance, procurement and utility-sector contracting.
“I’ve spent my entire career at the intersection of operations and complex systems,” said Ringo. “Becoming an attorney doesn’t shift me away from that — it strengthens my ability to advise, lead and serve at a higher level.”
Ringo has four adult children — one just graduated magna cum laude from Alabama State University with a degree in communications.
He’s been married to Dr. Wendy Ringo, owner of Sugah Please Breakfast Brunch Bar in Detroit, for nine years.
“She has been an incredible source of support and partnership,” said Ringo. Achieving this long-standing goal of his could not have been accomplished on his own, he adds.
“The last 20 years have been shaped by friends, mentors, colleagues, family and even strangers who decided to pour something into me,” said Ringo. “Being sworn in wasn’t an individual accomplishment, it was a collective victory. And if there’s anything I hope people take from my story, it’s this: your path doesn’t expire. You can reinvent yourself at any stage of life. Purpose doesn’t age.”
Legal News
Over the course of his professional journey, Dan Ringo has worn many hats from mechanical contracting and engineering to facilities manager at Detroit Public Schools and CEO of his own facility management company.
In every role, he has set his sights on getting the most out of each experience — a priceless attribute when it comes to walking a new path later in life.
After earning his J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 2012, Ringo recently returned to his original goal of becoming an attorney, passing the bar exam in July.
Earlier this month, he was sworn-in to the State of Michigan Bar by Judge Cynthia Thomas-Walker of 50th District Court in Oakland County.
“It felt surreal in a way that’s hard to describe,” said Ringo, who just stepped into a new role as vice president of operations and compliance at SEEL, LLC, an energy efficiency program implementation firm.
"I’ve had major milestones before — executive roles, industry leadership positions, national recognition — but being sworn into the Michigan Bar was personal. It represented a 20-year journey that required resilience, sacrifice and a level of commitment far beyond academics. Hearing the oath felt like closing a chapter I refused to abandon and stepping fully into a purpose I’ve carried for decades.”
Ringo grew up in Detroit and joined the Air Force two years after graduating from high school.
“It was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Ringo. “I served as an HVAC/R Journeyman and earned my first degree through the Community College of the Air Force. The Air Force gave me the foundation for everything I’ve accomplished since.”
That foundation, he said, included discipline, precision in how work and people are approached, resilience when life applies pressure, team culture and accountability.
“Those lessons show up in my leadership, my work ethic and even how I studied for — and approached — the bar exam,” said Ringo.
In addition to his work in facilities management for Detroit and Chicago public schools, Ringo also served as executive director for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324, helping negotiate 220 collective bargaining agreements servicing 6,000 members across the state of Michigan.
He started his own company, Ringo Services, in 2016, an integrated facility management company, which was recognized with a Spirit of Detroit Award in 2018 for service to the community by employing hundreds of Detroiters.
It was his time as a union steward, serving on negotiating committees, that spurred his desire to become an attorney. Ringo used the depth of all his experiences to his advantage when it came time to take the bar exam.
“When you take the bar in your 40s or 50s, you’re bringing every job, every challenge and every problem you’ve solved with you,” said Ringo. “My technical background, operational career, and leadership roles taught me how to break complex issues into pieces. That skill translates directly to the bar exam. Experience doesn’t remove the need to study—but it absolutely changes how effectively you study.”
What is the key to balancing full-time work, education, family responsibilities and leadership roles?
“The key is structure and purpose,” said Ringo. “Structure keeps you disciplined. Purpose keeps you energized. There were times when life was heavy —working full-time, raising a family, dealing with personal loss, navigating career shifts — but purpose never left me. You can endure a lot when the mission matters.”
As a contributing writer for Forbes Magazine, Ringo has penned several articles for the publication, including “Passing the Bar Exam Past 50: How Discipline and Persistence Defy Timelines.”
He’s also published a dozen books — from technical manuals on refrigeration and boiler operation to a business memoir titled, “Airman to CEO: From the Boiler Room to the Board Room.”
“I started writing because I wanted to give people insight into journeys that often go untold — especially reinvention later in life,” said Ringo. “My Forbes articles and books became a way to share lessons, wins, and roadmaps with anyone trying to elevate their life or career. … Writing forces reflection. It sharpens perspective. And it lets me contribute something meaningful to industries and people I care deeply about."
Making an impact on the people and organizations around him, throughout his varied journey, has been what he’s found most fulfilling.
“Whether it’s building workforce programs, shaping organizational operations, mentoring people in skilled trades, leading teams, writing or now practicing law — it all ties back to helping someone move forward,” said Ringo. “I’ve worked from the boiler room to the boardroom. The most fulfilling part of my career is helping others climb with me.”
As he looks forward on his career path, Ringo said his legal practice will center on regulatory and organizational compliance, procurement and utility-sector contracting.
“I’ve spent my entire career at the intersection of operations and complex systems,” said Ringo. “Becoming an attorney doesn’t shift me away from that — it strengthens my ability to advise, lead and serve at a higher level.”
Ringo has four adult children — one just graduated magna cum laude from Alabama State University with a degree in communications.
He’s been married to Dr. Wendy Ringo, owner of Sugah Please Breakfast Brunch Bar in Detroit, for nine years.
“She has been an incredible source of support and partnership,” said Ringo. Achieving this long-standing goal of his could not have been accomplished on his own, he adds.
“The last 20 years have been shaped by friends, mentors, colleagues, family and even strangers who decided to pour something into me,” said Ringo. “Being sworn in wasn’t an individual accomplishment, it was a collective victory. And if there’s anything I hope people take from my story, it’s this: your path doesn’t expire. You can reinvent yourself at any stage of life. Purpose doesn’t age.”
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