Ryan is a practicing attorney with Mayer Brown LLP in downtown Chicago. Prior to attending law school, Ryan spent four years on active duty in the United States Army.
Ryan was born and raised in western Kansas before leaving the state to attend college in Indiana. As part of his undergraduate studies, Ryan spent a year studying in Innsbruck, Austria, where he met his wife. Following graduation, they spent three more years living in Germany. Following his time in the Army, they moved back to Chicago where Ryan attended law school and his wife taught 6th grade while getting her Masters in teaching.
They have lived in Oak Park since 2001 and are the parents of four children.