Ryan grew up in the small coastal town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. While there he held a four year position with the business office and worked summers on the waters of the Gulf of Maine. After graduation Ryan took several courses at Maine Maritime to obtain his AB credentials and then set sail with TradeWinds. Working several years on deck allowed him to better understand the industry and gave him a foothold as he transitioned into the role of Operations Manager.