Recommendations

"Ben is an outstanding individual who raises the level of commitment, expertise, and creativity of any team he works with. He can master the intricacies of work flows, personalities, and resources both within his own organization and the organization for whom the work is being done to produce unique, creative solutions. Ben, with his drive, trustworthiness, and character, is an asset to any project."

"Ben brings a calm approach to all situations. He provides supportive service to his clients and builds strong relationships. Ben is always goal oriented and drives to on-time delivery. I have appreciated the opportunity to work with Ben and will continue to rely on him as a key contributor in professional situations on an ongoing basis."

"Ben takes a great deal of pride in building client solutions, and strong client and partner relationships, sponsoring and delivering a seamless solution. With great attention to deal, finance, and process, he is a true asset."

"Ben is a creative operations and delivery leader with 25+ years across various SaaS companies. He steps in when things are chaotic, helps the team figure out what's broken, and fixes it… He brings calm when things feel chaotic, and keeps projects moving without constant follow-ups. He thinks ahead, not just about the current sprint."

"I had the pleasure of working with Ben whilst I was CEO of Clear Ink, as we partnered on providing interactive marketing solutions for a key piece of (international) business. Ben was always extremely well organized, friendly, and helped actively move the business — and specific projects — forward on time! I would love the chance to work with Ben again."

CEO · digital communications agency (vendor partner)

"Ben is one of those people who just makes things work. No matter how many moving parts there are, he somehow keeps every project on track and every person aligned without breaking a sweat. He brings humor, empathy, and steady leadership to every interaction — and makes teams stronger and projects smoother."

"Ben was the steady force that kept our creative and marketing projects moving. He consistently thought ahead, identified gaps early, and made sure nothing slipped through the cracks. He stayed calm under pressure, kept the team grounded when things got hectic, and always approached challenges with a thoughtful, strategic mindset."

"Nails it on the project management front, yet shines even more as the heart of the team. I don't know how he pulls off both holding people accountable to their timelines and also being the one they turn to when they need a friendly ear — but he does, and he does it very, very well."

"Ben's most impressive trait is his ability to resolve complicated situations — untangling impossible problems and communicating the results back to everyone involved in a way that creates confidence, trust, and collaboration. That's why he's called 'the Soother.' Over ~10 years of working together, he grew from hands-on producer to a high-level account manager, always execution-, deadline-, and budget-driven."

"Managing creative for 48 events a year is no small feat, and Ben consistently helped me stay organized, focused, and ahead of deadlines — no matter how many were flying at us at once. He brings a rare combination of strategic insight, calm efficiency, and proactive problem-solving."

"While he managed projects and I managed relationships, I always appreciated that he intuitively understood people and focused as much on those relationships as I did. He is a great communicator, inspirational leader, and hard-working PM — passionate about his work and the people he works with."

"Ben is an excellent project manager, leader, and motivator. When unexpected changes to scope or duration occur — which inevitably happens on most projects — Ben expertly adapts and always executes. He managed a very complex, continuously evolving product from proof of concept to delivery, hitting every date on the calendar."

"Ben has always been a pleasure to work with. He exhibits exceptional professionalism, attention to detail, and has always garnered the respect of his colleagues. Ben has always been very good at balancing relationships with both clients and colleagues, while always keeping the needs of the company in perspective. He has grown from a position of a more day-to-day hands on developer to a manager of people and resources, to a high level account manager. His clients love him, and his coworkers respect him and just like being around him."

Sr. Systems Engineer · digital agency (cross-team)

"Ben is an incredibly talented and approachable account executive. No matter how many projects I work for him on, he never ceases to amaze me in his ability to make his team feel appreciated and motivated. Not only does he make you want the opportunity to work with him, he also makes sure that you know just how aware he is of every little detail that has gone into the project. Ben misses nothing — his attention to detail and to his employees makes him an incredible manager. In all honesty, I have been spoiled by Ben's incredible talents as an AE."

Multimedia Designer · digital agency (coworker)

"Ben's a professional juggler — keeps many accounts in the air simultaneously without letting anything fall through the cracks. He's an invaluable resource both on the client-facing side, and does a great job keeping his team protected from the day-in/day-out so they can keep their heads down and the work churning."

Creative Director · digital agency (same team)

"I was fortunate enough to work with Ben during my tenure at Web Associates (now LEVEL Studios). His professionalism and dynamic personality have been his signature in maintaining and growing client relationships. From an internal standpoint, Ben is very easy to work with and extremely detail oriented. I knew that if I needed information with regard to a client project, I needed to look no further than Ben. He is always on top of things, which is why his clients are confident they are in good hands. I would highly recommend Ben to any business seeking to recruit high caliber talent."

Creative Coordinator · digital agency (cross-team)

"As Creative Services Manager, I watched him skillfully juggle company-wide initiatives — coordinating assets for web, email, events, and sales while supporting multiple product and feature launches. He brings structure and clarity to fast-moving projects. When projects get stuck, Ben knows how to unstick them."

"I had the pleasure of starting my project management career with Ben. As a manager, he guided me toward the tools necessary to build my skills, encouraged my professional growth, and was always available to answer my questions. Ben truly cares about his team's success and well-being."

"A true inspiration and a mentor… Ben is the epitome of a 'people person.' He's an extraordinary communicator with the business acumen to match — an incredible manager of people, driving motivation and spirit in everyone around him."

"I have worked with Ben Ryken at Web Associates since 1997. He has had a sterling career with Web Associates and now Level-Studios over the years, progressing and being promoted several times. He has succeeded at every position to be the best at whatever he has attempted. I had the honor to be an engineer on his team for several years when he was a project manager at Web Associates. Ben was very organized and highly respected by his team as a leader and his ability to manage people. It was not long before he was promoted to a position where he managed other project managers as well and was again met with the same level of respect and admiration. His ability to manage the client was evident and he was brought in to handle many projects with complex relationships. It was his trademark to be the manager brought in when a relationship was difficult to handle, and Ben would smooth things out and bring the project back to a manageable state."

Sr. Web Systems Engineer · digital agency (reported to Ben)