Concordia University Texas is pleased to announce that Reid Ryan will be honored at the 2012 Excellence in Leadership Gala on Friday, August 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel. The Excellence in Leadership Gala recognizes an outstanding Christian leader each year and raises money for the University’s scholarship fund.
“I’m pleased to be selected as this year’s Concordia University Excellence in Leadership honoree,” Ryan said. “My leadership style is based on helping others achieve their goals and striving for greatness as a team. Receiving an award like this serves to motivate others as well as validate the goals we have set forth to accomplish. I wish to thank everyone involved with the Round Rock Express for pursuing excellence on a daily basis.”
Ryan serves as CEO for the Ryan-Sanders Baseball group, which owns several minor-league baseball teams in Texas, including the Triple-A affiliate to the Texas Rangers, the Round Rock Express.
Under Ryan’s leadership, the team broke the Texas league single-season attendance record in its first season in 2000 as an affiliate to the Houston Astros and grabbed the league championship. Over the following four seasons, the Express drew more fans and appeared in the playoffs on three more occasions. The team has undergone more changes since then, expanding the stadium and moving from Triple-A to Double-A status.
Ryan is also involved in many other business ventures. He serves as a board member for Fired Up, Inc., the parent company of Carino’s Italian Grill; is a director and organizer of R Bank in Round Rock, Texas, and is a partner behind the Texas expansion of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
Ryan enjoys giving back to Central and South Texas. He has served on numerous non-profit boards and has helped to raise more than $900,000 for charity in the greater Austin and Corpus Christi communities. He currently serves on the advisory boards for the Ride on Center for Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas and the Cancer for College Golf Tournament in Austin, Texas.
Most recently, Ryan worked closely with the Miracle League on the initial design phase for a special playing field in Corpus Christi that will be similar to the Express’ Miracle League Field that was completed in Austin in 2007. The Miracle League is a non-profit baseball league that features specially designed facilities for kids with mental and physical disabilities. The Miracle League allows all kids to enjoy the fun of playing baseball and being on a team.
Ryan and his wife, Nicole, are the proud parents of one son, 12-year-old Jackson, and two daughters, 10-year-old Victoria and 7-year-old Ella. The family lives in Georgetown and enjoys spending free time with family and friends at the family ranch, watching sporting events and traveling.
“We’re very pleased to honor Reid, and we are confident that he will serve as an inspiration for others to lead and make a difference in their own communities,” Dr. Tom Cedel, president of Concordia University Texas, said.
This year’s Concordia University Texas Excellence in Leadership Gala will be held Friday, August 17, 2012, at 6:30 p.m., in Austin at the Four Seasons Hotel. Tickets start at $300. For more information, please contact Gala Director Heidi Doering at 512.313.4110 or heidi.doering@concordia.edu.
Posted on May 17, 2012 by melinda.brasher@concordia.edu