Christy Ryan, CPSM

I wanted to be a storm chaser when I grew up! I spent my summers as a child visiting family in Ohio and was always fascinated by the thrilling thunderstorms that rolled in. Watching these storms approach gave me a rush of adrenaline. My college advisor suggested that I start my career by getting a degree in physics or math. After some thought, I decided to pursue a degree in environmental science as it piqued my interest in the complexities and interconnectedness of the world around us.

After college, I spent a decade as a member of the environmental site characterization team at a national engineering firm. Though I enjoyed analyzing data and conducting fieldwork, I found myself gravitating toward connecting with clients and ensuring their needs were met. Eventually, I started representing the firm externally and took on more marketing responsibilities. Through the California Association of Environmental Professionals, I met one of the founding partners of a new firm, Ascent Environmental, who was looking for their first marketing professional. I took a leap and made marketing my primary role.

Over the past 12 years, I have enjoyed supporting Ascent’s growth from a small startup in Sacramento to a reputable firm serving clients across California and beyond. Though I’m not chasing storms, I’ve found a fulfilling profession where I can apply my environmental background, collaborate with colleagues, teaming partners, and clients, and even get an adrenaline rush from successfully meeting those tight proposal deadlines.