My EGO started Ryerson Brothers Construction...

Most people are surprised to hear I didn’t start in construction—I started in music. I trained as a band director, earned a degree in music education, and spent five years teaching middle school. Those years taught me leadership, organization, customer service (parents count!), and the joy of helping young people (even crazy, hormonal, 7th grade boys!) accomplish big things together. Later, my wife and I served as missionaries in Lyon, France—working with youth, leading music, and handling administration at an American school. Looking back, those experiences were preparing me for much more than I realized.

When we returned to the States, I really fell into construction. I was not pursuing it. One of my former band parents owned a company and said, “I know you can manage people and projects. I can teach you construction—come work for me.” That opened the door to a whole new career. I worked for two companies for about 9 years, learned the trades, watched how business was done, and eventually thought, “I can do this better.” By the time we moved to South Carolina, I was convinced it was time to start my own company.

The truth is, I was prideful. I thought I had all the answers. But running a business isn’t just about jobs and profits—it’s about people, integrity, and carrying weight you don’t expect. I was humbled quickly. What began as my stage to prove myself became a classroom where God taught me dependence, patience, and humility. I now see a much bigger picture: this business hasn’t just been about building for the community—it’s been about God building something in me. I set out wanting to make an impact, but the greater result has been how much I’ve been changed. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.