Meet Ryan M. Handley
I’ve always believed that the strongest organizations are built by people who genuinely care about the communities they serve.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work across higher education, business, healthcare, community development, entrepreneurship, and marketing. While those industries may appear different, they’ve all reinforced the same belief: meaningful growth begins with trusted relationships, thoughtful leadership, and a commitment to leaving people and organizations better than you found them.
Whether I’m leading a team, building strategic partnerships, mentoring future professionals, or developing marketing initiatives, my passion has always been helping organizations strengthen their communities while becoming stronger organizations themselves.
I don’t measure success by campaigns launched or projects completed. I measure it by the relationships built, the people developed, and the lasting impact created along the way.
My Story
For more than two decades, my career has taken me through higher education, entrepreneurship, creative marketing, business development, and community leadership. While the industries have changed, the purpose behind my work has remained remarkably consistent: helping people and organizations grow.
Like many professionals, my journey didn’t begin with a master plan. It began by saying “yes” to opportunities, learning from every experience, and continually asking how I could make a greater impact.
Some of my earliest roles taught me the value of teamwork, accountability, and servant leadership. As my career progressed, I discovered a passion for understanding people—learning their stories, building meaningful relationships, and helping them find solutions that genuinely improved their lives. Whether assisting a customer, mentoring a student, collaborating with executives, or leading a team, I found the greatest fulfillment in creating trust and helping others succeed.
Over time, I was fortunate to lead university recruitment initiatives, build strategic partnerships, teach marketing and business at the collegiate level, launch and grow my own business, and serve organizations throughout Central Florida. Each experience strengthened my belief that lasting success isn’t created through transactions—it grows through relationships, collaboration, and leadership rooted in trust.
Along the way, I also learned what kind of leader I didn’t want to become. Working in environments where people were undervalued or leadership was driven by ego reinforced something I already believed: people perform at their best when they feel respected, heard, and connected to a meaningful purpose.
Today, I bring together more than twenty years of experience across leadership, strategic marketing, education, business, and community engagement to help organizations grow. Marketing remains an important part of my background, but I’ve come to see it as one of many tools for creating meaningful impact. My greatest strength has never been simply building campaigns—it’s building relationships, developing people, and creating environments where organizations and communities can thrive together.
As I look toward the next chapter of my career, my focus is clear: partnering with organizations that value collaboration, integrity, innovation, and community, while helping build stronger organizations, stronger communities, and stronger futures.
My Philosophy
Trust Before Transaction
Lasting relationships are built through honesty, consistency, and genuine care—not quick wins.
People First
Organizations succeed because of people. Investing in individuals creates stronger teams, better leaders, and healthier communities.
Lead Through Service
Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about creating opportunities for others to succeed.
Never Stop Learning
The best leaders remain curious. Every conversation, challenge, and experience offers an opportunity to grow.
Leave It Better Than You Found It
Whether it’s a team, an organization, or a community, my goal is always the same: create meaningful, lasting impact.
What Drives Me
I’ve always been inspired by people who care deeply about making a difference.
Whether they’re leading a business, teaching a classroom, serving their community, or building something from the ground up, I’ve found that the most successful leaders all share one thing in common: they genuinely care about the people they serve.
That belief has shaped every chapter of my career.
I’m driven by the opportunity to help organizations grow, build meaningful relationships, and create environments where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to do their best work.
I find energy in conversations that spark new ideas, partnerships that create lasting impact, and opportunities to bring people together around a shared purpose. Some of the most rewarding moments in my career haven’t come from launching a successful campaign—they’ve come from mentoring a student, helping a business solve a difficult challenge, connecting two people who could help one another, or watching a community rally around a common goal.
I believe leadership is about creating opportunities for others to succeed.
It’s about listening before speaking, leading with integrity, and leaving every organization, every team, and every community stronger than you found it.
Outside of my professional career, you’ll often find me investing in my local community, teaching at the collegiate level, exploring emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, traveling to experience new cultures, or simply having meaningful conversations with people from different backgrounds. I’m endlessly curious, and I believe every experience offers an opportunity to learn something new.
At the end of the day, what motivates me is simple:
Helping people.
Helping organizations.
Helping communities.
Because when people grow, organizations grow.
And when organizations grow, communities become stronger.
COLLEGE EDUCATION & CERTIFICATES
A Commitment to Lifelong Learning
I believe the best leaders never stop learning.
Throughout my career, I’ve continued to invest in higher education, professional development, emerging technologies, and leadership training to better serve the organizations, communities, and people I work alongside.
Whether exploring artificial intelligence, earning professional certifications, or teaching the next generation of marketing and business professionals, I’m always looking for new ways to grow—so I can help others do the same.
Full Sail University
Master of Science in Entertainment Business | 2009
fullsail.com
The Entertainment Business Master of Science degree program is an advanced concentration specific to business and management skills essential to excel and lead in the fields of creative business. The curriculum covers core concepts like executive leadership, storytelling and brand development, contract negotiation, project and team management, and digital marketing.
GPA 3.96
Global Professional Score 99%
University of Central Florida
Bachelors of Arts in Digital Media | 2004
ucf.edu
The Digital Media Bachelor of Arts degree program is a combination of traditional and new media. The curriculum circulates around interactive, print, and social media focusing on design, business, and user engagement.
GPA: 3.0+
Internship: University of Central Florida’s Institute of Simulation and Training
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
Associates of Arts | 2000
scf.edu
The Associate’s Degree of Arts provided the basic education needed to attend the University of Central Florida. Education included basic core fundamental classes as well as specific electives such as drawing, photography, printing, and creative design.
GPA: 3.0+
Silicon Valley Digital Marketing Institute
Advanced Social Media Strategy Training and Certification
Google Ads
Google Ad Words Certification
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING
Board Member (2024 – Present)
Events & Marketing Committee Member
(2024 – Present)
President (2019 – 2024)
City of Sanford Museum Marketing Committee Member (2019 – 2024)
City of Sanford Museum
Advisory Board Member (2018 – Present)
Seminole State College of Flordia
Business Information Management – Social Media
Advisory Board Member (2016 – Present)
Seminole State College of Florida
Digital Media
Director of Marketing (2011 – 2013)
Lake Mary / Heathrow Festival of the Arts
Member (2011 – 2012)
Ad2Orlando
Board Member (2013 – 2014)
Addy Awards
Volunteer (2010 – 2020)
Hands on Orlando
Volunteer (2018 – Present)
PetRescue by Judy