Ryan Clark
Co-Founder, Direct Edge
Ryan Clark founded Direct Edge with his business partner, Ryan Brueckner, just over 20 years ago. “This was right out of college and has since been the only life I’ve known,” he says. Starting from zero has taught him the “Do it Yourself” mindset, which keeps him attached to his inbox most of the time. But it hasn’t stopped his love of exploration, be it camping in an abandoned gold mine or finding the best burrito in Los Angeles. “It’s amazing what you can find in your own backyard, especially in Southern California. Within two hours, you can be in the forest, the desert, or swimming at the beach,” he says. “Two weeks in Europe is great, but it’s also fun to see what you can pack into a weekend and get to know your local food, culture, and history.” At home, tending to the garden is a nice stress relief for Clark, until his competitive side takes over. “I love the contradiction of taking something relaxing, like gardening, and then making it a competition.” He has won ribbons at the County Fair for five years running, including Best in Show for the whole fair last year with a 15-pound beet.