Ryan was born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California. At the age of 19, he enlisted in the US Army and served in Germany and Bosnia during the conflict in the Balkans. After three years of service, Ryan received an honorable discharge and went on to attend Diablo Valley College. His exceptional academic performance earned him a full scholarship to St. Mary's College of California, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics. While at St. Mary's College, Ryan founded his first company, a junk removal and hauling business, which surpassed $1 million in revenue by the time he graduated. Over the following decade, he expanded his entrepreneurial ventures into various sectors, including a chain of recycling centers, a general engineering business, a property preservation company, a limo bus service, and several other enterprises. In 2014, after selling his general engineering business, Ryan transitioned into the construction technology industry, launching a nationwide construction drafting service and a marketplace for dirt. Ryan has been actively involved in the blockchain space since 2013, contributing to multiple projects. One of his most recent collaborations was with astronaut Scott Kelly, where they released a non-fungible token (NFT) that raised over $500,000 to support relief efforts in Ukraine. In addition to his business pursuits, Ryan generously devotes his time to mentoring veterans and the formerly incarcerated, empowering them to rebuild their lives through entrepreneurship. Where to find Ryan Crownholm Website: www.ryancrownholm.com Facebook: Ryan CrownholmLinkedIn: Ryan CrownholmInstagram: @RyanCrownholmTwitter: @RyanCrownholm SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Entire Productions- Creating events (both in-person and virtual) that don't suck! and Entire Productions Marketing- carefully curated premium gifting and branded promo items.  PLEASE RATE, REVIEW, & SUBSCRIBE on APPLE PODCASTS “I love Natasha and the Fascinating Entrepreneurs Podcast!” – If that sounds like you, please leave a rating and review of the show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to learn more about what makes the greatest entrepreneurs "tick" and become and stay successful. Click here, open up the podcast in Apple Podcasts and click on "Ratings and Reviews". Tap to rate with five stars (thank you), and select “Write a Review.” Here is the link if you don't see the hyperlink: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fascinating-entrepreneurs/id1548836057