UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 16, 2025 / Marquis Who's Who honors Richard Gilliam III, MBA, for his excellence in financial leadership. Mr. Gilliam successfully transitioned from a professional basketball career in South America and Europe to a pivotal finance role as the tax accounting manager at the Kansas State University Foundation. His journey is a story of applying the discipline of an elite athlete to the corporate world, helping ensure the foundation's financial operations run seamlessly.
About Mr. Richard Gilliam III
Mr. Gilliam earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting and business management from Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, in 2006 and a Master of Business Administration from Kansas State University in 2015. He emphasizes that success in finance, much like in sports, requires rigorous preparation, citing his strength as both a "practice player and a game-time performer."
During his playing days, Mr. Gilliam's foundation in finance began to develop informally through tax advice provided to friends and family. This led him to establish MaxTax Services in 2009, which offers individual tax return services and runs alongside his work at the Kansas State University Foundation. Both of his endeavors coincided well, with the conclusion of the basketball season falling around the time tax season typically began.
Mr. Gilliam recalls a standout professional accomplishment during the COVID-19 pandemic. After recognizing the need to modernize the KSU Foundation's outdated system for distributing tax returns to donors, he spearheaded the transition to an electronic system. He successfully demonstrated significant time-saving benefits to the leadership committee, thereby initiating a positive and impactful change for the organization - notably, the process he established is still used to this day.
Success on the Court and in the Office
Passionate about challenging the perception that an athlete's identity is solely tied to athletics, Mr. Gilliam is making strides to expand not only his own image, but the public's perception of other professional athletes as well. "Basketball isn't who I am; it's simply something I did," he said as he aims to show former athletes that the mindset of discipline, focus and intentional preparation are directly transferable and profoundly connected to their success in the corporate world.
Mr. Gilliam attributes his success to being just as intense and calculated in practice as during game time. His success on the court was obvious, but it was his quiet devotion to practice and preparation that truly set him apart. For him, preparation was not just important; it was the foundation of every high-level performance. He has carried this attitude into his career by putting in extra time researching, arriving at meetings not just prepared, but armed with questions that spark insight and ignite conversation.
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, Mr. Gilliam plans to continue relying on his growth mindset, pursuing career opportunities that transform routine exchanges into moments of self-discovery and impactful contributions. His advice to others, particularly those working in and building small businesses, is to prioritize preparation. He notes that even 30 minutes of review before a meeting can dramatically improve their clarity and understanding.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Gilliam is a dedicated family man who enjoys spending time with his children, coaching and maintaining an active lifestyle through sports and exercise. He also closely monitors the tax implications of the evolving world of collegiate athletics to stay current on fundraising developments, especially due to his wife's involvement in women's college basketball. Always at the forefront of his thoughts are his family's needs, wanting to ensure they are well-supported and that his children can succeed in their own sport or academic endeavors. "I want to show them that how you do anything is how you do everything."
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website,www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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SOURCE: Marquis Who's Who
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