Meet Dan Ryan

Allow us to introduce Dan Ryan, who has served as an Applications Engineer at The Vantage Plastics Family of Companies for roughly thirteen years. Dan has had a long career in the plastics industry and brings a great deal of experience to the customers he serves. Dan began his career in plastics thermoforming at age seventeen, right out of high school, with a company located in lower Michigan. Having started in October of 1972, Dan says, “It is hard to believe I have been in this industry for fifty-two years.” When he took that first job, he was still living in his parent’s house, approximately ten miles from the business. Dan has a fond, or maybe not so fond, memory and says, “I rode my motorcycle to work in the cold every day for two months before I could afford to purchase a car.” Despite that experience, Dan still likes motorcycles, as he currently owns a 2001 Harley Road King. Dan filled a variety of roles and gained a lot of knowledge with that initial employer as he remained there for approximately thirty-nine years prior to taking a position with Vantage Plastics.

Dan embraced his move to Vantage Plastics and the opportunity to live in the Tawas area surrounded by the beauty of nature in the lakes and forests. When asked what he likes about being on the Vantage Plastics’ Team, Dan says, “I really enjoy the people on this team. There are also so many great opportunities that come before us for which we help develop solutions, and Vantage is constantly working on developing new technologies”. People often notice that Dan has a rare knack for remembering details. This is evident when it comes to his interactions with people and recollections of dates and events. Dan says, “I especially love getting to know all about customers and their families. I am truly interested in their lives outside of work.”

Like many individuals with a bit of time behind them, Dan has faced many ups and downs. He is a cancer survivor and lost one brother, David, to liver failure after he survived cancer. He has another brother, Dennis, who is also a cancer survivor. Dan has been married twice. His first marriage to Star lasted seventeen years. Star had a severely disabled son named Levi with a terminal illness and was only expected to live until the age of six. Due to the devoted care of Dan and Star, Levi lived until the age of twenty-one. Not long after his passing, Dan and Star divorced. Three years after this, Dan married Cindy, who had two children. After a period of seven years, they decided to amicably separate and divorce.  

Outside of his career, Dan enjoys deer hunting during both bow and rifle seasons. He also enjoys fishing for lake salmon and trout and woodworking when time allows. Hunting and fishing activities are often done with his brother Dennis and other family. He shares a cabin and some hunting property with Dennis near Honor, Michigan, which is perfect for the gatherings during hunting seasons. Dan has also purchased a home with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan in Empire, Michigan, and envisions it as a retirement location sometime in the future.

When asked if he has had any unique special experiences, Dan shares, “In 2003, I got to fly in a WWII B-17 bomber. My father was part of a B-17 bomber crew during WWII in Europe, so it was super special to have that experience. I had followed where the plane was touring and providing rides for a long time and ended up driving from Michigan to Indiana for a twenty-five-minute flight. As I continued to follow this plane, it ended up crashing in October of 2020 with seven people on board”.

We're pleased to have Dan Ryan on our team and look forward to seeing his continued contributions. We have enjoyed sharing this article about Dan Ryan. As a member of the Vantage Plastics Family of Companies, Dan is helping us and our customers fulfill the Vantage Plastics’ Mission of Forming Better Lives, Forming Solutions, and Forming Sustainable Futures. 

Experience the thriving work environment at Vantage Plastics, where positivity and professionalism flourish. Our exceptional team is the cornerstone of our success, and we invite you to be a part of it. Don’t miss out—apply today and join the Vantage Plastics team!