Fast 15: Denny Woods
by January 1, 2011 12:00 am 357 views
While most folks would rather have a root canal than do taxes, Denny Woods found his calling when he took a course in taxation at the University of Arkansas.
The accounting major enjoyed that class so much, he talked with a professor about what he could do in that field. The professor suggested becoming a tax attorney.
“That appealed to me the most, so my junior year I just started down that path,” Woods said. “It’s always challenging, there’s always a new issue that comes up. There is no routine issue.”
What he likes most about his work at Reece Moore Pendergraft is not only helping people fulfill their legal tax obligations, but also helping them save money on their taxes.
While he can’t talk much about his work because of the need for confidentiality, he said his career highlights so far involve “just being able to do some high-level planning for some pretty wealthy individuals in Northwest Arkansas. A lot of people my age don’t get that opportunity.”
A native of West Memphis, Woods came to Fayetteville in 1999 for college. After earning his bachelor of science in business administration degree in 2003, he attended the UA School of Law, graduating with honors in 2006.
Woods then earned a master of tax law degree at the University of Florida in 2007. He returned to Fayetteville and landed his current job, which includes estate planning, tax law and planning, and probate administration.
He uses his estate planning experience in his position on the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter’s planned giving committee. He’s also on the board of directors of the UA’s Walton College Alumni Society, which funds scholarships.
Woods makes time in his busy schedule for daily workouts. He and his wife like to travel every chance they get, which isn’t nearly as much as they would like.
Part of his motivation to succeed stems from a fear of failure, he admits, adding, “I’ve just always had the drive.
“I just like to do my best in everything. I don’t settle for anything less. That’s how I approach my work every day.”