Who is Ryan Parsons?
Ryan Parsons has been described as a quiet thinker, and a man of many questions. As a child, he had the constant and sometimes foolish desire to take things apart, "just to see what's inside." Born and raised in East Columbia, he wasted no time in "borrowing" his fathers tools to expand the horizons of a kid living out in the boondocks. He attended Dreher High School and graduated in 2002 with an internship at Siemens VDO manufacturing, with hopes of opening his own business one day. What that business would be was yet to be determined, but the outdoors would no doubt be part of the pre-requisites.

Enrolling at Appalachian State University in the winter of 2003, Ryan knew he would benefit from courses in writing, sales, and other forms of communication. What better place to learn and play than the great outdoors of Western North Carolina. (A Snow-Skiing class for P.E. credit didn't hurt either.) Ryan's first summers in college were spent in Charleston, SC where he found himself on job-sites, helping to renovate antebellum homes. These summers not only taught him about hard work and living on your own, but also sparked an interest in historical renovations. While the work was far from glamorous, it was extremely fulfilling to look at a project nearing completion, and knowing that he had a hand in getting it there.

Upon receiving a degree in Advertising in May of 2006, it was time to find a job. Ryan took a good long look at entry-level advertising and sales jobs, and couldn't seem to find that happy medium between making a living, and being happy in his early twenties. A call from two friends back home who wanted to start a home improvement company seemed like a great opportunity. Wise Guys was born, and the sky became the limit.