Born a sixth-generation Vermonter and raised in rural Vermont, Ryan's design sensibilities have always been drawn to and inspired by the vernacular and agrarian structures which dot the landscape of northern New England. 

Educated at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston (A.S., B.Arch, M.Arch), Ryan has a keen understanding and appreciation for the art and science of construction.  For his thesis, Rise of Consumerism, Fall of Craft: American Vernacular Architecture 1850-2010, Ryan explored the negative effects of American consumerism on craftsmanship in building and architecture, a topic Ryan is most passionate about.

Following graduation, Ryan gained invaluable real-world experience as a carpenter at both Brian Elmendorf Custom Homebuilding (Stowe, VT) and Polli Construction (South Burlington, VT), and then also as a designer and project manager at the award-winning firms of Nancy Stracka Interiors (Boston, MA), LineSync Architecture (Wilmington, VT), and finally, Helicon Design Group (Boston) where he was an Associate up until starting R. Edwards & Co. in 2018.

Ryan also contributes his time and expertise as the Co-Chair of the AIA Vermont Scholarships + Awards Committee, the Vice Chair of the Calais Historic Preservation Commission, and as a Member of the East Calais Community Trust. In his free time, Ryan can usually be found running, biking, and causing just enough trouble with his nieces and nephews to maintain ‘fun uncle’ status.  Ryan lives in a 165-year-old home in East Calais with his wife and partner of 24 years, Aminah, and their large and goofy chocolate lab, Wilson.