Ryan began his construction career in 1997 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Missouri State University. Early in his career, he worked for several large commercial and residential construction companies across the country, gaining valuable experience managing projects of all sizes and complexities. Eventually, he returned to Columbia, bringing that knowledge and expertise back to the community he calls home.

Ryan joined Swift in 2008 and quickly became an integral part of the company’s growth and success. In 2019, he purchased the company from longtime owner Terry as he prepared for retirement. Today, Ryan oversees Swift’s commercial division while balancing the many responsibilities that come with owning and operating a growing construction company.

While Ryan is proud of the projects Swift completes, he is even more proud of the people behind them. He believes the company’s greatest asset is its team and considers the Swift family to be an extension of his own. His leadership is built on trust, accountability, and a commitment to creating opportunities for those around him to succeed.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his two daughters, four grandchildren, three beagles, and three cats—who collectively make sure life at home is never quiet, clean, or boring. When he finds free time, you might catch him crawling over rocks in his Jeep, testing both gravity and his insurance deductible on a mountain bike, or playing drums and guitar. Despite mountain biking’s repeated attempts to humble him, Ryan keeps getting back on the bike, proving that determination—and maybe a questionable sense of self-preservation—runs deep.