About Ryan
Athlete, builder, father,
perpetual student.
From competitive snowboarding halfpipes to enterprise marketing systems to AI engineering — my path has never been conventional. I've always been driven by curiosity, competition, and the need to figure out how things work. This is the story behind the resume.
Where It Started
Twin Cities kid
I was born in Wisconsin, but I grew up in the Twin Cities. From an early age I was a multi-sport athlete who played everything but gravitated hard toward hockey and snowboarding. Hockey was the constant, the sport woven into Minnesota life from the day you can stand on skates. But snowboarding became the obsession.
In the mid-90s, snowboarding was still young. Resorts were just starting to allow it. I found something in the sport that clicked — the progression, the competition, the culture. By my teen years, I was traveling the country to compete and it had become much more than a hobby.
The California Chapter
Chasing the dream in Mammoth
After graduating from Benilde-St. Margaret's in 2001, I deferred enrollment at the University of Montana and moved to Mammoth Lakes, California to pursue professional snowboarding full time. The plan was simple: train every day, compete at the highest level, and turn pro.
I hit the progression hard. But the mountain had other plans. Multiple injuries over the course of the year forced me to confront reality — the dream of being a paid professional was slipping away. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, but I hung up the competitive chapter and called Montana to tell them I was coming to school.
My parents were extremely pleased.
College Years
Montana bound
I arrived in Missoula in 2002 knowing exactly what I wanted to study. I selected business administration on day one — while many of my classmates were still figuring out what they wanted to do. I chose Montana specifically because it gave me access to snowboarding with friends outside of my studies. The best of both worlds.
I graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with emphases in marketing, management, and information systems. That cross-functional foundation — business strategy, technology, and marketing — became the backbone of my entire career.
The Professional Journey Begins
Seattle, Microsoft, and the start of a career in tech
After graduation, I moved to Seattle where my parents had relocated and landed a contract position with Microsoft as a Marketing Project Manager. That first role planted me firmly in the intersection of technology and marketing — a space I've never left.
The truth is, I'd been drawn to technology long before that. In the AOL days, I was the kid who was fascinated by the internet — learning how websites worked, how information moved, how everything connected. Microsoft made it professional.
Back to California
Southern California — the second time around
After the Microsoft contract ended, I was hired by a Microsoft Gold systems integration partner and made a spontaneous move to Southern California. First Orange County, then Marina del Rey in Los Angeles. It was a completely different California experience than Mammoth — less mountains, more hustle.
I lived there for several years during one of the worst economic downturns in recent history. The cost of living, the job market, the uncertainty — it was a rough stretch. But those years shaped my resilience, my resourcefulness, and my ability to perform under pressure. I learned how to grind when things aren't going your way and how to keep moving forward when the market is working against you.
Coming Home
Back to Minneapolis
In 2013, I made the decision to move back to Minneapolis. My parents had returned and my sister was planning to move back too. Minnesota was calling.
Shortly after I arrived, I met Kristina. We built a life together quickly — married, had a boy and a girl, adopted a golden retriever named Surly, and started putting down roots in South Minneapolis. After a few years in the city, we moved to Minnetonka for the school system. We recently made another move to the west side of Lake Minnetonka in Southeast Minnetrista, and we absolutely love being close to the lake.
We're a Minnetonka schools family. Both Kristina and I are parent volunteers in the hockey community, and I coach Peewee hockey in the Minnetonka system with mites and possibly bantam on the horizon.
Life Today
Lake life, hockey rinks, and never sitting still
When I'm not focused on business or coaching from the bench, you'll find me focused on:
Always building. Always learning.
Whether it's a halfpipe, a marketing engine, a hockey system, or an AI agent — I approach everything the same way. Figure out how it works. Push the limits. Get better every day. I love the challenge, even when I probably shouldn't take it on. Especially then.
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