Ryan A. Williams
Hometown:
Brooklyn, NY & Syracuse, NY
Ryan is excited to immersive himself in a new community and help build a more resilient, interconnected entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Finger Lakes Region. He also looks forward to contributing to innovative approaches, frameworks, and methods that could shape the future of economic development on a national scale.
Ryan Williams is the founder of RAW Consulting, based in Central New York, where he leads initiatives that empower entrepreneurs and social impact organizations to build capacity and amplify their impact. RAW Consulting has generated over $2 million in revenue for clients through innovative capacity-building strategies. As a New York Consultant Partner for the Nonprofit Lifecycle Institute, Ryan also co-facilitates Lifecycles 101 trainings across western and central New York, preparing consultants and organizational leaders to address their unique developmental challenges.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Ryan serves as a senior executive for a nonprofit organization in Syracuse, NY, where he guides the organization through significant growth and challenges. Balancing both roles, he secured critical funding and expanded programs to disrupt cycles of youth violence and poverty. This hybrid experience of entrepreneurial leadership and hands-on executive management shaped his approach to helping organizations drive sustainable growth and navigate complex systems.
Empowered by the Economic Recovery Corps fellowship, Ryan is transitioning into full-time entrepreneurship with a mission to expand the reach and impact of RAW Consulting. His goal is to build resilient and thriving communities by engaging directly with the organizations and systems that serve them, ultimately driving long-term, sustainable change.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Advancing Rochester Business Resource Partnerships for Small Business Success
Host Community or Region:
New York
Host Organization:
Third Eye Network
Advancing Rochester Business Resource Partnerships for Small Business Success project aims to strengthen entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) in the Finger Lakes Region, particularly in the City of Rochester. A sponsored program of the Rochester Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) powered by Third Eye Network, the ROC Business Resource Partnership aims to become a regional association for ESOs functioning similarly to a professional membership, training, and advocacy organization. With an ERC Fellow dedicated to this highly collaborative initiative, this will set the stage for producing greater impact supporting Rochester diverse small business community. The fellow will serve as an ecosystem builder among entrepreneurial support organizations – cultivating multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration, facilitating knowledge sharing, and developing pathways for small business development.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
