About Us

Ryan is the Founder & CEO of Better Hospitality Group, the operating group behind both TAKODA Restaurant & Beer Garden locations in Shaw and Navy Yard and Boardwalk Bar & Arcade and Easy Company at The Wharf. Better Hospitality Group’s venues are widely regarded as 4 of the most popular neighborhood bar/restaurants in our Nation’s Capital. Ryan and BHG's venues have been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Conde' Nast Traveler, and Nightclub & Bar Magazine.

Ryan began his D.C. hospitality career as a bartender at The Bullpen at the Half Street Fairgrounds in Navy Yard. Prior to moving to Washington, Ryan was the Business Operations & Marketing Manager of TAO Group in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reporting directly to ownership, Ryan learned many of his best-in-class operating strategies from TAO Group. With 50+ hospitality venues, TAO Group is widely regarded as the most successful, multi-concept, international restaurant group in the world.

Prior to entering the hospitality industry, Ryan worked in the National Football League for five years. Ryan spent one year at the NFL office in New York City as a Labor Operations Analyst and four years at the Cleveland Browns in Ohio as the Player Contract Negotiator & Salary Cap Analyst. While at the Browns, Ryan was the youngest player contract negotiator in the NFL and led or assisted in the negotiations of over $200M worth of player contracts.

Ryan holds a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School where he was a member of The Entrepreneurship Club and The Hospitality & Travel Club. Ryan graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Amherst College and played varsity lacrosse. Ryan is also a long-standing supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Ryan is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and resides in Chevy Chase, MD with his wife and two sons.