According to Ryan, a strong work ethic, good character, critical thinking, and the ability to follow a process through from beginning to end are skills that never go out of fashion. As the VP of Organizational Development and Project Management, a new role at the Credit Union, Ryan has honed these skills during his 18 years with Sunward.
“I was hired as a teller in 2002, but that didn’t last long, as I was promoted to a financial services representative position in less than two weeks,” laughs Ryan. A year and a half later, Ryan found his calling with Sunward’s training team, working on quality processes, adult education, and project management. He notes the Credit Union was just dipping its toes into project management and service quality back then. “I was the sole person in an operation analyst role for several years before being promoted to Service Quality Manager,” he shared. Today, Ryan manages three service quality professionals and oversees Sunward’s training team of five.
For many years, Ryan says (with tongue only slightly in cheek) that his mantra was “world domination through effective documentation.” He started Sunward’s organizational knowledge management system and has continued his work keeping the Credit Union on task and moving forward through intentional and consistent project management.
As a history buff and self-professed “old soul,” Ryan admits his wife of 21 years and their four daughters, ranging in age from eight to eighteen, keep him young. “Those five ladies are the joy of my life,” he says with a smile. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys playing music and reading. He is also very involved in organizations such as Quality New Mexico and the Albuquerque Quality Network.
