Businessman Dan Ringo passed the bar exam last July, and was sworn in to the state bar on Dec. 4 by Judge Cynthia Thomas-Walker.
By Julie Freer
Legal News
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’s 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 last July. On Dec. 4, 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. "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.”
The Detroit native 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 says, included discipline, precision in how to approach work and people, 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. He started his own company, Ringo Services, in 2016, an Integrated Facility Management company.
His time as a union steward, serving on negotiating committees, 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.”
Ringo notes the key to balancing full-time work, education, family responsibilities and leadership roles is structure and purpose.
“Structure keeps you disciplined. Purpose keeps you energized,” he said. “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."
Ring, who penned “Passing the Bar Exam Past 50: How Discipline and Persistence Defy Timelines” for Forbes Magazine, says 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.”
Legal News
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’s 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 last July. On Dec. 4, 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. "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.”
The Detroit native 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 says, included discipline, precision in how to approach work and people, 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. He started his own company, Ringo Services, in 2016, an Integrated Facility Management company.
His time as a union steward, serving on negotiating committees, 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.”
Ringo notes the key to balancing full-time work, education, family responsibilities and leadership roles is structure and purpose.
“Structure keeps you disciplined. Purpose keeps you energized,” he said. “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."
Ring, who penned “Passing the Bar Exam Past 50: How Discipline and Persistence Defy Timelines” for Forbes Magazine, says 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.”
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