Rising Star ~ Ryan Harms, Coldwell Banker Vanguard

FROM MANAGING RESTAURANTS TO CLOSING DEALS

RYAN HARMS is a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Vanguard in Jacksonville. He joined the real estate industry in 2018 and has quickly become a respected member of his community.

PIVOT POINTS

Before he became a real estate agent, Ryan worked in the family restaurant business with his mother and father. He managed the stores and assumed he would take over the company someday. However, when his parents decided to retire, they instead sold the restaurants.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” recalls Ryan. My parents compensated me for the many years I worked with them. My wife and I had a one-year-old at the time so I decided to take a job in the healthcare industry as an aftercare coordinator. I would help patients find housing and a treatment plan once they left the treatment facility. This new job was a major cut in pay, but I was able to spend a lot more time with my wife and young son.”

After a year, he realized he needed to find a different type of work that had more opportunity for financial growth. Ryan read a book about real estate and decided to give it a shot. He learned a lot about networking and client services during his time in the healthcare industry, and that role would ultimately benefit him as he made the transition to real estate.

Ryan attributes much of his current success to the relationships he has built with his customers and other people in the real estate industry. He strives to go above and beyond for his clients, making them feel like they are the only person he is working with. His goal is to build long-lasting relationships that last beyond the closing table.

OVERCOMING ADDICTION

Ryan’s past has shaped a lot of his views and actions today. He struggled with alcohol from the age of 12 to 25, and admittedly hurt family and friends with his behavior. He finally found a treatment center and started working on himself after he completed the program. Slowly he began to rebuild his life. Today, Ryan is over 10 years sober and is passionate about helping others who struggle with addiction.

GENERATIONS OF JAX NATIVES

Ryan was born and raised in Jacksonville by his parents, who were also born and raised here. He grew up in East Arlington and still resides there now. He attended Sandalwood High School and then completed some college.

Photos by Scott Golmic

Ryan loves being a dad and having fun with his wife Ashely and the kids, Hendrix and Harlow.

After remaining sober over the first two years, he then met his wife, Ashley, who is also a Jacksonville native. They got married in 2015 and have two children: a son, Hendrix, and a daughter, Harlow.

Ryan grew up playing baseball, enjoying the beach, watching football, golfing, fishing, and spending time with friends and family. His favorite time of year is football season when he’s cheering on the Jags and participating in his fantasy football league. Ryan stays active by jogging and running 5K races.

However, Ryan’s absolute favorite thing to do is travel. He has been able to visit Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and a lot of the United States. His family also loves all things spooky and the Halloween season. Ryan and Ashley recently bought an RV and are excited to travel the country together as a family.

A RISING STAR

REALTOR® Ryan Harms puts his clients first. He is passionate about helping them achieve their real estate goals and building long-lasting relationships. He’s also passionate about helping others who struggle with addiction, which he was able to overcome himself. Ryan is a respected member of his community and is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of those around him.

Congratulations, Ryan, on being this month’s Rising Star!

Ryan Harms