Ryan Sparks is the Chief Information officer of Lennar Corporation, managing the strategy, development, implementation, and usability of the company’s technology and data ecosystems. Prior to joining Lennar, Ryan was a Managing Director at JP Morgan Chase. There he led global initiatives to modernize product and internationally expand merchant payments. He also held roles in strategy and operations within the firm’s Wholesale Payments business and at the corporate level.
Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Ryan was the COO of Rowan Technology Solutions, an education technology firm that develops interactive digital learning content using mobile and cloud solutions. At Rowan, Ryan provided executive leadership during the transition from a philanthropic project to a thriving startup, building product management discipline and the business functions.
Before his professional business career, Ryan commanded Marines for sixteen years as an infantry and reconnaissance officer. During this period he completed five deployments, leading Marines through recent history’s most significant battles in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He was featured in the 2010 HBO Documentary, The Battle for Marjah and has appeared on CNN, the Charlie Rose Show and in the New York Times.
Ryan serves on the Board of Directors for The Headstrong Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free mental health care to military veterans and the Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation. He holds an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University, an MS in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Kansas. His military decorations include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, two Purple Hearts and two Meritorious Service Medals. Additionally, he was the 2010 recipient of the Marine Corps prestigious LtCol William Leftwich Trophy for outstanding combat leadership. He lives in Encinitas, CA with his wife and two children.
