Ryan grew up in Portland, Oregon, in a family deeply rooted in the restaurant industry. His mother ran a Village Inn franchise while raising him and his siblings, and the restaurant quickly became his daycare, playground, and first workplace. By middle school, he was bussing tables and working alongside friends, gaining an early education in both customer service and entrepreneurship, paving the way to developing new restaurant tech.
After high school, Ryan attended the University of Oregon, where he built lifelong friendships and embraced college life. Following graduation, he stepped into the family business full-time, managing the restaurant for 12 years. While his goal was to expand the franchise, an opportunity to sell the property led the family in a new direction. That experience, which Ryan calls his “real-world MBA,” taught him invaluable lessons about leadership, growth, and adaptability.
Today, Ryan works with Toast, a restaurant tech company founded in 2011 by MIT students. Toast began with a simple idea—making it easier to pay a bar tab—and has since grown into a comprehensive platform powering the modern restaurant ecosystem. From handheld ordering devices and kitchen display systems to digital ordering, marketing, payroll, and delivery integration, Toast helps restaurants streamline operations and improve the guest experience.
For Ryan, the transition from restaurant operator to tech partner is a natural fit. His years in the trenches give him unique empathy for operators, and his passion for helping restaurants succeed drives his work every day. Covering the Eugene, Springfield, and Central Oregon Coast region, Ryan combines his personal story with professional expertise to bring innovation and support to restaurant owners navigating an ever-changing industry.
Contact:
Ryan Sweeney
Toast
https://pos.toasttab.com/
503-888-9690