Ryan has helped 1,500+ entrepreneurs one-on-one and another 5,000+ in workshops in three U.S. states over the last twelve years. He has worked with both traditional small businesses and technology startups while in university-run incubators, city government, chambers of commerce, and various economic development organizations. 

Previous to Global Ventures, Ryan served as Vice President of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership in Ocala, Florida for nine years. There he oversaw an incubator and entrepreneurship initiatives throughout the Ocala Metro area. Ryan’s background also includes launching incubators in Illinois and in his home state of Virginia.

A passionate speaker, Ryan has shared his ideas at over 50 local, state, and national conferences related to entrepreneurship, economic development, and the emerging field of entrepreneur ecosystem building.

Ryan earned a B.S. in management from Virginia Tech with a concentration in entrepreneurship and holds a certificate in serial innovation from the University of Illinois as well as a certificate in Business Incubator Management from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA).

He has trained with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Rural Policy Research Institute’s Center for Entrepreneurship (RUPRI), and The Kauffman Foundation. Ryan is a 1 Million Cups Chapter founder and a certified Kauffman FastTrac facilitator.

Ryan has been married to his wife Pamela, a North Carolina native, for 12 years. They have a 5-year-old daughter and a Boston Terrier, both of whom enjoy going to the beach. His family loves to read and has collected over 3,000 books which he jokingly says is “nice until you have to move them.” The Lilly family is excited to call the Boca Raton area their new home.