Ryan is 51 years old and grew up in the Hiddenite Community of Alexander County. He began working in construction for his father at the age of 14, utilizing his summer breaks and days off from school. Ryan's educational journey includes an Associate's degree from Wilkes Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree from Appalachian State University. At 25, after passing the NC General Contractors License test, he started his own construction company and later ventured into real estate development.

His commitment to community service is evident from his tenure as an Alexander County Commissioner from 2008 to 2020, serving three terms. During this time, he was elected County Commission Chairman for three years and Vice-Chairman for another three. Ryan's leadership roles extended to the Hickory-Catawba Valley Homebuilder’s Association, where he served as President in 2013 and spent eight years on the Board of Directors. Additionally, he was a State Director for the NC Homebuilder’s Association for three years.

Ryan has been an active member of various committees and boards, including the Greater Hickory Transportation Advisory Committee, Unifour Transportation Advisory Committee, National Association of Counties Economic Development Committee, Catawba County Land Use Development Committee, Alexander County Building Services Advisory Committee, and the Alexander County Economic Development Board of Directors.

On a personal note, Ryan has been married to Tracy for 24 years, and they have two children, Caroline and Connor. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, hunting, fishing, and taking care of horses.