Ryan earned a Juris Doctor degree at The University of Iowa College of Law.  Ryan spent nine months studying American, British, European, and International law in London, England.  He spent time in the English courts as a pupil to English barrister Ian Wade.  Ryan also holds a Masters of Business Administration degree (Entrepreneurship track) from the University of Colorado at Denver and a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from Iowa State University.

Work experience includes over three years as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at HVS Hotel Management. During Ryan's tenure, HVS was transformed from a start-up enterprise into a
"Top 100" hotel management company managing 21 hotels and resorts in 9 states and Mexico. Annual revenues were approximately $15 million on assets valued at approximately $50 million.

Ryan obtained his Certified Public Accountant license while working as an auditor at Ernst & Young, LLP, a  "Big Four" accounting firm.  Other relevant work experience includes hotel appraisals and consulting completed at HVS International, where Ryan was a Consulting & Valuation Analyst. He was an accountant for Centura Health where he was assigned to special projects that included preparing account reconciliations which were several years in arrears, assisting with accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and system conversions.

Ryan has been involved in numerous successful entrepreneurial ventures including a landscaping company, a real estate investment management company, and investment property ownership entities.