“Although Ryan had many successful business accomplishments, his greatest passions, besides his family were the Book of Mormon and serving the people of Guatemala and Belize through creating jobs and training for myriads of people. He hosted humanitarian trips to help build schools, houses, libraries, support orphanages, medical facilities and help educate people on how to manage their precious ecosystems for growth. His foundation, First Desk, fulfills a basic need by having local companies build children’s school desks, and delivering them to various schools in villages in several countries. In the aftermath of many catastrophic volcanic eruptions, Ryan directed all available vehicles be filled with rice, beans, water and diapers to be delivered to desperate villages. He, along with his wife, family and partners served some of the “least” of these according to worldly standards but saw his Central American brothers and sisters for their true worth- warriors that needed encouragement and opportunity.

...Nobody dreamed bigger than Ryan. Whether in business or humanitarian causes, he was the ultimate visionary. He knew how to assemble a team of ordinary people and make them all-stars. He could see opportunity in what seemed to be insurmountable challenge. He was patient, generous, passionate, and kind. He was incredibly intelligent, creative and insightful. He always believed in abundance- the concept that there is a world in which everybody can win and prosper. He taught us all to be better, to reach higher, and do more.”