Author + Consultant

Ryan has studied and consulted with business, church, educational, and non-profit organizations for the last 20 years. He brings a rich, practical lens and academic expertise to his writing and consulting work regarding senior leadership teams, teamwork, collaborative organizational design, and small-group ministry design and leadership.

Ryan’s first book, Teams That Thrive, provides an in-depth exploration of healthy team leadership. His second book, Leading Small Groups That Thrive, helps small group leaders learn how to catalyze transformational small group experiences. He frequently writes for ministry publications, including Outreach, Influence, and Christianity Today’s smallgroups.com.

Ryan’s academic scholarship has been published in the Journal of Applied Communication Research, the Southern Communication Journal, Group Facilitation: A Research and Applications Journal, and The International Encyclopedia of Organizational Communication, presented at numerous academic conferences, and recognized with several awards from the National Communication Association.

Leader

Ryan currently serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. An experienced practitioner, Ryan has led, trained and developed teams focusing on community development, discipleship, missions, leadership development, academic excellence, fundraising and marketing for over twenty-five years in universities and churches.

Professor + Teacher

In addition to his leadership roles, Ryan has served as Professor of Communication at both Azusa Pacific University and Colorado Christian University, where he has taught courses in group, organizational, and leadership communication for over 15 years. He also serves as a visiting professor at Capital Seminary at Lancaster Bible College, teaching masters and doctoral courses in team dynamics and leadership, and leadership development. He’s guest lectured at several universities and seminaries, and he has served on several dissertation committees for graduate students studying teams and collaborative communication practices in church organizations.

Ryan holds a PhD in Group and Organizational Communication from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Speaker

Ryan has spoken to audiences large and small, and loves to help the light go on amongst the members of his audience. Ryan’s grateful for the many times he’s been able to speak and encourage and equip people at conference gatherings, church services, chapels, retreats, corporate events, and seminars and workshops. To get a taste of Ryan as a speaker, see his TEDx talk: The Myth of Meaningful Work.

Husband + Dad

Ryan’s favorite roles in life are as husband and dad. Ryan journeys through life with his wife, Jill, and their four children: Halle, Alia, Katelyn, and Matthew. They enjoy a full family life, replete with lots of pool time in the summer and skiing in the winter, and hanging out with family and friends. He loves the Broncos, shooting hoops, playing card and board games, and eating. Most importantly, he has a passion for Jesus and the local church, and his heart beats for discipleship.