“Lead From the Floor, Grow From the Core.”
Ryan T. Seagraves is a seasoned operations and manufacturing executive with 28 years of progressive leadership experience, recognized for transforming underperforming facilities into thriving, efficient, and profitable operations. His career is distinguished by a deep commitment to hands-on leadership, operational excellence, and organizational transformation across the corrugated packaging, logistics, and chemical manufacturing industries. Ryan lives by the belief that leadership is most effective when it’s visible, grounded, and service-oriented—a philosophy he summarizes in his personal motto: “Lead from the floor, grow from the core.”
Beginning his professional journey as an hourly employee, Ryan quickly demonstrated a talent for process improvement and team engagement. His early years instilled a respect for frontline work and the value of experiential leadership, lessons that would shape his managerial style for decades to come. As he rose through the ranks, Ryan developed a reputation for turning around struggling facilities and building strong teams centered on accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
Over the years, Ryan held critical roles at some of the industry’s most prominent firms, including Smurfit WestRock, Georgia Pacific, Jamestown Container, and Hood Container. As General Manager across multiple locations, he was responsible for all facets of business operations—from P&L oversight and sales strategy to procurement, safety, quality, and HR leadership. These roles often involved inheriting facilities with stagnant or negative performance and transforming them through cultural renewal, lean operations, and decisive strategic planning.
A transformational leader by nature, Ryan consistently delivered measurable results. At Jamestown Container in Rochester, NY, he led the plant to a record-breaking $54 million in sales and achieved a 98% on-time delivery rate. At Kampack in Newark, NJ, he reversed a $500,000 monthly loss, increased output by over 30%, and reduced waste significantly. In each of his leadership positions, Ryan cultivated high-performance cultures by developing people, aligning them with clear metrics, and fostering a deep sense of shared purpose.
His operations leadership is underpinned by technical fluency and engineering know-how. A graduate in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University, Ryan also studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Tennessee. He leveraged this dual knowledge to bridge operational efficiency with commercial viability, particularly in high-capex environments. His engineering experience spans telecom and manufacturing, and he has overseen more than 50 capital projects ranging from $1 million to $10 million, including the negotiation of a $350 million fleet overhaul.
A certified Six Sigma Green Belt and corporate auditor, Ryan played a central role in shaping enterprise-wide Operational Excellence (OPX) programs. As a corporate trainer, he developed review protocols for divisional performance and taught leadership principles across the country. He believes in building systems that outlast individual roles and establishing standards that create scalable, sustainable growth across entire organizations.
Ryan’s leadership model is deeply human. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while many chose to lead remotely, he remained on the floor daily, modeling resilience and solidarity. His approach to leadership is not hierarchical but integrated—he engages directly with staff at all levels to ensure morale, accountability, and operational clarity. Employees trust him not just because he leads but because he listens and participates.
Beyond the boardroom and factory floor, Ryan is passionate about racing—a pursuit that mirrors his professional style: strategic, fast-paced, and results-driven. His personal interests fuel his competitive spirit and drive to continually improve. Though he speaks only basic Spanish, Ryan’s communication style is universal—clear, direct, and values-based, grounded in the belief that every team, like every engine, performs best when all parts are aligned and respected.
Today, Ryan is seeking board service opportunities where he can contribute his operational mastery, transformational leadership, and strategic vision. He aims to help companies not only grow but thrive in today’s volatile business landscape. His motivation is rooted in service—to use his lifetime of skills to support other leaders, organizations, and industries in reaching their next level.
Character:
Ryan exemplifies steadfast integrity, leading from the front with humility and presence. His values-driven leadership ensures that teams trust his guidance, especially during times of change and uncertainty.
Knowledge:
With nearly three decades of hands-on experience, Ryan has a deep and practical understanding of operations, logistics, and organizational change. His technical and managerial knowledge enables him to drive both the “how” and “why” of strategic initiatives.
Strategic:
Ryan approaches every opportunity with a systems-level mindset, always balancing immediate performance with long-term sustainability. He consistently delivers profitable outcomes by aligning cross-functional teams under unified, measurable goals.
Communication:
Ryan is a natural communicator who connects across all levels of an organization with clarity and respect. Whether speaking publicly or engaging one-on-one, his ability to inspire action and alignment is a cornerstone of his leadership style.
