Long-time tED magazine sales representative and mainstay at the NAED registration desk during conferences and meetings Rich Ryan has announced his retirement. His last day with tED magazine was December 15.
Ryan is known for always providing humor and insight to attendees, while also making sure distributors and manufacturers have everything they need to be successful. He joined NAED in 2003 to help with planning at the National Meeting, and moved to tED magazine in 2004 as the sales representative for the East Region, and in 2012 added the Central region to his sales territories.
“I always enjoyed working the NAED Meeting Registration desk,” Ryan said. “It gave me the opportunity to have five minute ‘coffee chats’ with our members and tED advertisers. These chats were a great way to hear about their business, how things were going, and also a way for them to voice their views. There was always an understanding that you could talk with Rich and things will happen. Working the desk gave me a better understanding of the NAED member views , needs, or frustrations. There was also a lot of lighter moments about travel, sports and where to eat.”
For the past 19 years, Ryan’s company, RGR Services, sold exhibit space at trade shows for a number of events, including the The Solid Waste Association of North America, the Boston Globe Travel Show, the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show, and the Independent Electrical Contractor Association (IEC). On the magazine advertising sales front, Ryan worked for The Thomas Register, Underground Construction, Pipe News, Paper Stock Report, and INSIGHTS Magazine
Ryan also represented Spent Lamp Recycling and NCM Odor Control in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Spent Lamp was a firm that recycled fluorescent bulbs on site, which Ryan proudly says was way ahead of their time.
Ryan has also been the President Member of Sandler Selling Solutions for more than 22 years, and he says he plans to continue to mentor new sales reps in the future.
Ryan’s immediate plans include helping his community, where he owns a home outside of Cleveland.
“Right now volunteering twice a month with a Pay it Forward Restaurant, called Bistro 163, that provides free community meals twice a month,” Ryan said. “I work the drive up door and we average around 150 meals per session and another 100 delivered. I also pack lunches for local school kids once a week. No in-school classes means no free lunches at school.”
“Travel is on the docket once the world reopens,” Ryan added.