Hometown: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
Occupation: Recent Law Graduate

Ryan, 28, oversees the marketing and advertising for his father's employment law firm while he awaits his results from the California state bar exam. After playing baseball at the junior college level, Ryan transferred to UC Davis and graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics. Ryan enlisted myriad ways of supporting himself through college: running a car detailing business, teaching at baseball camps and modeling. After graduation, Ryan opened and ran the San Diego branch of his father's firm. He earned his law degree from the California Western School of Law and lives with his wife in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA.

When will you consider yourself "a success"?
When my wife doesn't have to work anymore.

How would you describe your leadership style?
Depending on the situation, but in my daily work life I try to be more democratic. I include other employees in the decision making process but I always maintain the final decision making authority.

How do you deal with personal and professional challenges?
I have the ability to turn my problems into challenges or even opportunities. I believe there is something to be gained from almost every problem I encounter. As long as I maintain an optimistic attitude no matter what happens, it's usually possible to find something positive in any event, if I look hard enough. So to put it simply, I look for challenges to better myself.

What, in your opinion, is the most important quality to have in order to succeed in life and why?
I believe that ATTITUDE (great + positive attitude at that) is the single most important quality to have to succeed in life because attitude affects your happiness, your ability to work and ultimately your entire family/work/life culture.

What's more important: College Education or Real World Experience?
Now that we are in the 21st century, not only is a college education a must, but a graduate degree should be part of ones arsenal as well. Real World Experience comes a lot cheaper, but a graduate degree is an objective standard upon which two people with equal street smarts can be judged.

Have any previous Apprentice winners motivated or inspired you?
None of the winners have inspired me, but Kwame Jackson is the one Apprentice who I have enjoyed watching and following the most because of his wisdom and honesty. The winners have been steady, consistent performers, but if I were hiring for my own company, I would start with Kwame because he always was himself, held himself accountable, and conducted himself with dignity and respect for others; just like myself.

How do you combine your creativity with your business savvy?
Just recognizing that I had creativity AND business savvy was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of being on the Apprentice. Combining both of those attributes was a lot easier since they came naturally and effortlessly to me.

Faves;
Music: Anything by Blink 182 (they'll get back together, I just know it), Green Day, Beastie Boys, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Unwritten Law, No Use for a Name, NOFX. So I guess you could say I really love country music.
Books: The Davinci Code (Dan Brown), Don Quixote (Miguel De Cervantes), Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe), Play Poker Like the Pros (Phil Helmuth), Super System (Doyle Brunson)
TV: Sportscenter, The Office, The Daily Show, World Series of Poker, and that Surreal Life episode where Vern Troyer gets naked and pees in the living room plant.
Movies: Old School, Collateral, Anchorman (c'mon it's filmed in San Diego), Swingers, Casino, Scarface and Splash.

He's modeled before. Yikes. I'd say that he's not really inept, but he's not smart enough to get through half-time.