SMU Alum Ryan Ball (’08) on Buying and Transforming Rockwall Services

This week on SMU Stories we sat down with Ryan Ball (’08), an SMU Lyle School of Engineering alumnus and CEO of Rockwall Services, to talk about his path from engineering to entrepreneurship.Ryan shares how his mechanical engineering degree shaped the way he approaches problem solving, even though he quickly realized the traditional engineering path was not the right fit for him. After early roles in film distribution, software ventures, and consulting, he pursued an MBA at McCombs and eventually took the entrepreneurial route through a search fund, acquiring Rockwall Services in 2023 after reviewing 37 potential deals.Rockwall Services has gone from a traditional freight brokerage firm to a fractional transportation department offering a full suite of a la carte services to its partners including being able to provide a complete bolt on white labeled logistics department to any organization.Rockwall Services also serves as the R&D lab for Remington Software, helping to create the logistics ERP ecosystem for the future.In the episode, Ryan breaks down the realities of freight logistics, the importance of clear communication in business, and why some of the best opportunities exist in essential industries that rely on outdated systems and processes.He also discusses how improving software, user interface and user experience design, and operational systems can unlock major growth in traditional sectors.Hear from Ryan Ball about his journey from SMU to leading multiple businesses, as well as the advice he has for future generations.