Ryan has been part of the Mychal’s family since 2015, when he joined our Path to Independence program. Over the last decade, he has built an impressive collection of skills, confidence, and experience that ultimately led him to becoming a paid employee at Mychal’s Bakery in 2024. Today, Ryan is a valued member of the bakery team, where he consistently demonstrates the reliability, focus, and initiative that employers look for.
Ryan first began volunteering in the bakery in 2021. As his skills grew, so did his responsibilities. These days, he helps produce many of the bakery’s most popular items, including chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, brownies, and sugar cookie dough. His favorite task is making chocolate chip cookies, and for good reason. They are so closely associated with him that we named them Ryan’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. When asked what he enjoys most about baking them, Ryan’s answer is simple: he “feels proud” when he makes a fresh batch.
One of Ryan’s greatest strengths is his remarkable math ability. If a recipe needs to be doubled or tripled, he can often do the calculations in his head before anyone else reaches for a calculator. He pays close attention to detail and isn’t afraid to speak up if he spots a mistake. Along with his strong listening skills, patience, and ability to stay focused on a task, these talents make him an important part of the bakery’s daily operations.
Ryan has also developed valuable workplace habits that extend well beyond baking. He likes structure and routines and takes ownership of his responsibilities. When he finishes a task, he doesn’t wait to be told what to do next. More often than not, you’ll find him grabbing a broom and sweeping the bakery floor. Through his work at Mychal’s, he has learned cleaning and sanitation skills that he now uses at home as well. It’s a great example of how job training builds practical life skills that support independence both in and out of the workplace.
Outside the bakery, Ryan continues to put those independent living skills to use. One of his favorite outings is walking to Jersey Mike’s and ordering lunch on his own. He knows exactly what he wants: a #17 Philly cheesesteak on white bread with pepperoni and a Pepsi. He loves earning a paycheck and is currently saving for a future shopping spree, although there is a good chance some of those hard-earned dollars will also be spent on sandwiches.
When Ryan isn’t baking, working, or enjoying a cheesesteak, he loves spending time with his dog Bella, swimming, watching Disney movies, and listening to ABBA. His favorite Disney character is Pongo from 101 Dalmatians, and coworkers can often hear him singing “Cruella De Vil” while mixing cookie dough in the bakery. It’s these little moments that make Ryan such a joy to work alongside. We are incredibly proud of how far he has come and excited to see what he accomplishes next.
