The IBR Interviews of Highly Effective People: Josh Tyree

Though a person can point to job experience and promotions to leadership as milestones in a career, those are not always the signs of an effective, successful person.

For Josh Tyree, who was recently named CEO of Sorren, an accounting firm in Meridian, he certainly has the resume to show how his career has progressed. However, he points to coaching, family and interpersonal relationships as examples of his effectiveness.

Just as he looks for the best in others, Tyree looks for the best in himself and how he can be of benefit to those around him, setting personal and professional goals, day by day, week by week and so on.

Idaho Business Review: What inspired you to pursue the career you are in?

Josh Tyree: Coming out of college as an economics major, I was drawn to accounting because it gave me exposure to so many different types of businesses. I liked the variety. But once I got into the profession, it became much more about the relationships I developed, both within the firm and with my clients.

The relationships are what have kept me here — working alongside clients, supporting team members, and playing a role in their success. That’s what continues to inspire me.

IBR: What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced during your career and what have they taught you?

JT: There are always technical challenges — new regulations, evolving industries, staying current. But the human side of business is really just as complex.

I started my career during a turbulent time in the profession. One of the five largest CPA firms had just collapsed. I then experienced the highs of a strong economy, the lows of the recession and its impact, and now the transformation driven by AI and technology. Through all of it, one lesson stands out: Focus on the person first. When you prioritize people, better decisions follow.

IBR: When you encounter a roadblock on the path to reaching your goals, how do you circumvent it?

JT: Perseverance matters, but so does flexibility. I believe there’s almost always a solution — and usually more than one path to get there.

If you’re locked into only one outcome or one approach, you limit yourself. Staying open to different routes and different end points helps you keep moving forward.

IBR: Talk about your most recent accomplishments, the significance of those accomplishments, and how you got there.

JT: I’m privileged to serve as CEO of Sorren, just like I’m privileged to coach my 12U competitive basketball team. In both roles, my job is to support others so they can succeed.

At Sorren, we’ve grown from our roots in Idaho to more than 20 offices nationwide, four international offices, and over 1,400 team members in just two years. What I’m most proud of isn’t just the growth — it’s that we’ve stayed aligned to our communities and in our mission and values while doing it. Seeing our teams collaborate and our clients benefit from that unity is incredibly rewarding.

On the basketball side, a recent second-place tournament finish was special. Watching those players compete hard and stay connected through tough games reminded me that success is always about the team.

IBR: How would you define your leadership style?

JT: Calm, thoughtful and direct. I try to bring people together, build alignment, and give them the clarity and tools they need to succeed.

Life experience has taught me that everyone sees things differently and may be dealing with challenges you don’t see. The more you understand that, the better perception and understanding you can have of what is in front of you and the better decisions you make as a group.

IBR: Do you mentor others? If so, what do you look for in a mentee?

JT: I do my best to mentor whenever I can. What I look for most is ownership. A mentor once told me years ago, “I can invest in your growth, but I can’t care more about it than you do.” I completely agree with this, and the most rewarding mentees are the ones who are genuinely committed to improving themselves.

IBR: How do you plan each day to be successful?

JT: I’m very task-oriented. I set goals at the yearly, monthly, weekly and daily levels and prioritize them carefully.

What’s important is balance; family, community and work all matter to me, so they’re all part of that framework or plan. If you have ever read “Free to Focus” by Michael Hyatt, I use a lot of the ideas outlined in that book, with my own twist. I end each day reflecting on what went well and what didn’t go well and then adjust the next day go from there.

IBR: What will you accomplish this year?

JT: First and foremost, supporting my wife and our two boys. That’s always the priority.

I’m also heavily involved with the Idaho Youth Ranch, where we have some meaningful initiatives underway to serve youth across Idaho. Supporting IYR through my involvement in several committees and doing whatever I can to support the people and initiatives at IYR is very important to me.

At Sorren, we’ll continue growing with like-minded CPA firms and expand on our core experience in accounting and tax services with items like Strategic Planning, Training and Human Capital related services — all focused on serving our people, clients and communities.

IBR: If you had to retire tomorrow, how would you describe your career, and what would you do in retirement?

JT: I’d hope people would say that I cared. I’ve made mistakes, but I’m loyal and I genuinely care about the people around me — family, team members, clients, friends and the kids I coach.

If I retired tomorrow, I’m not sure what I’d do. I enjoy golf, but not full-time. I love coaching and making a positive impact on youth. I’d need to keep contributing in some way. I truly love being a CPA and what this profession stands for, so even if I retired, I find a way to be part of the CPA community. But hopefully, I have a long way to go before I retire!