Beginnings in Banking

 

Ryan began his career in commercial banking, managing a lending portfolio of more than 125 clients across West Kentucky ranging from individual farmers to large inland marine operations. While helping his clients with their borrowing needs, cash flow management, liquidity and leverage and business growth, Ryan also developed a reputation for his strong leadership, exceptional customer service, and ability to forecast opportunities in a variety of markets. 

 

​

Economic Development and Non-Profit Management

 

While serving as president of GCED, rural economic development agency, for 7 years, Ryan and his team announced a total of 40 new projects and expansions that created over 2,000 jobs, and brought in over $200 million in investments to the community. The diversity of projects spanned from hospitality, to restaurants, to industrial. This also allowed him to work with multiple international companies on four separate continents.

 

Ryan developed new industrial park property, acquired and sold industrial buildings and constructed a 100,000 sq. ft. speculative building which sold for full price before it was finished. The organization and community were nationally recognized in the top 20 micropolitans (cities with less than 50,000 population) in Site Selection Magazine for growth and development during the last four years of his tenure. In his final year as GCED President, Mayfield was ranked #4 in the country.

​

 

Disaster Recovery

​

Ryan had no intention of entering the world of disaster recovery, that is until an EF-4 tornado destroyed his hometown of Mayfield, Kentucky in December 2021. Feeling called to lead long-term recovery efforts for tornado survivors, Ryan started two non-profits, Mayfield-Graves County Long Term Recovery Group and A New Lease on Life, raising over $20 million combined.

 

His ability to challenge the status quo of ineffective recovery and rebuilding helped to develop new programs and policy that are being implemented across the United States. He has been frequently asked to speak of his experience and ideas at federal meetings,  national conferences including National VOAD, and by states and communities who have recently experienced disasters of their own.

​

​

Business Consulting

​

Ryan is currently the President of Momentum Group, a business consulting firm, and COO of a new technology company that plans to launch its first app in the summer of 2024. For a full list of clients served by Momentum Group, please visit the Clients tab on our website.

 

Ryan resides in Mayfield, Kentucky with his wife Katie, and their four children Sophie, Emmie, Jack and Luke. While Ryan's experiences have offered him the opportunity to travel and work with companies around the world, his passion for rural America continues to be the driving force for his consulting company, Momentum Group.