Ryan moved to the South Carolina Lowcountry with his family in 1991 where he attended middle school and high school on Hilton Head Island. After graduating from Hilton Head High School, Ryan attended The College of Charleston and graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 2001. Ryan then attended law school at Mississippi College School of Law where he received his law degree in 2005. While there, Ryan met his wife, Tiffany, who is also an attorney. Ryan and his family moved back to Bluffton in 2008 and spent several years as the Executive Director of Lowcountry Legal Volunteers before accepting a position with Bullard and Friedman in 2012. Ryan serves on the Board of a number of non-profit organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry and Lowcountry Legal Volunteers. In addition Ryan is also a member of United Way Emerging Leaders, Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and the Hilton Head Association of Realtors.