Joseph Ryan is currently the Chairman and CEO of Ryan Investments LLC, a private firm with investments in the hospitality industry, the alternative energy business, and private banking.  Mr. Ryan is also the Chairman and CEO of Joseph Ryan & Associates LLC, a company offering mediation, arbitration, and consulting services for companies and professional service organizations.  In 2007, Mr. Ryan was a Partner in the Business Transactions Group at Venable LLP, a Washington, D.C. based law firm.

Prior to joining Venable, Mr. Ryan served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Marriott International, Inc., where he led a staff of 85 attorneys and oversaw the offices of the corporate secretary, government affairs and corporate communications.

During his 12 year tenure with Marriott, Mr. Ryan played a leadership role in all major transactions and helped to guide the company as it expanded into a global hospitality powerhouse with more than 3,000 properties under management in more than 65 countries and system-wide sales of $20 billion.

Prior to joining Marriott, Mr. Ryan practiced law for 27 years with the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, where he became a Partner in 1976 and Managing Partner of the firm in 1993.

Mr. Ryan is a published author and a frequent keynote speaker at a variety of firms and events.  He is also a recipient of a Bronze Star for Service in the Republic of South Vietnam and the 2006 Matthew J. Whitehead, II Diversity Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC).

Mr. Ryan received a B.A. from the University of Washington in 1964 and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1967.  He was a member of the University of Washington 1964 Rose Bowl Team.