Leaders & Achievers 2022
THOMAS EAGAN
Director of finance and administration, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
THOMAS EAGAN DID NOT ORIGINALLY PLAN to major in business at Bryant College (now Bryant University), but he was drawn into changing his major by the promises of finance. In his 32 years at Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, Eagan has overseen the firm’s financial and administration matters, helping to keep the Providence-based law firm growing. Eagan has led and organized various areas over the years, including new hires, facilities, renovation and other administrative procedures.
“Learn as much as you can in the industry,” he advised upcoming leaders in finance. “Build relationships with your colleagues. Communicate, interact, discover their needs and how to help them.”
Every organization Eagan has worked with has been different. Eagan recommended working to understand the business and the organization first, before bringing in knowledge from previous jobs that might prove useful in a new role. Both pieces of advice have served Eagan well in his various roles, such as the city of Warwick’s finance director.
‘Learn as much as you can in the industry.’
Even on his own time, Eagan continues to help organizations with their finances. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Eagan was a board member of the Appalachian Mountain Club for five years, during which he worked on the club’s finance and compensation committees and chaired its audit committee.
“I’ve been hiking for 30 years,” Eagan said, so it was easy enough for him to get involved in the local organization, and then to advance. “It’s been a great opportunity. I’ve met interesting people, and hopefully had an impact on its success.”
Eagan’s most recent project has been training his successor as he looks ahead to his retirement. As Eagan put it, “the law firm is bigger and more complex” than it used to be. So Eagan is having to cover instructions on how to do just about everything, along with providing historical context on the firm’s past.
Eagan appreciated the opportunity he received and has been working hard to make sure his successor can help the firm move forward.
“I’m leaving [the firm] in good hands,” Eagan said.
