Progressive activist. Community advocate.
The first days.
Ryan was born the second of four children in a middle class family. His father was a small business owner, and his mother for many years was a homemaker before beginning a career in education at the community college.
An early start.
Ryan began his activism in middle school and high school protesting and campaigning against child labor in the garment industry and the death penalty in the Missouri.
Off to college.
Ryan received a scholarship to Rockhurst University where he would become more politically active. He founded the Rockhurst College Democrats and helped form the Missouri Federation of College Democrats serving as its first Treasurer and then serving as the Credentialing Chairman at the 2007 College Democrats national convention held in St. Louis.
Early Career.
Ryan began his political career working in the field for Claire McCaskill’s victorious 2006 Senate campaign. He then worked as assistant to campaign manager for Albert Riederer’s Kansas City 2007 mayoral campaign, and then Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008. He would later delve into fundraising as a fundraising host for Missouri House Democrats and on the fundraising team for Robin Carnahan’s 2010 Senate campaign.
Expanding experience.
The second stage of Ryan’s career provided him corporate experience as well. He served as an online marketing consultant guiding small businesses in the home improvement trades how to leverage technology for more growth. He then worked as a Medicare advocate in insurance regulation as well as a logistics manager in a national solar energy firm. All the while, he stayed active in local progressive groups like the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus.
Today.
Ryan formed Had Enough, Inc. and the Divided We Beg initiative to push pro-union reform in Missouri. The plan is to have progressive worker legislation on the ballot for voter approval in 2024. A tireless champion for workers and women, Ryan works with the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, labor unions and the Jackson County Democratic Committee as well as various minority organizations to leverage the voices of ordinary citizens.
