Ryan Burns is a native of Jefferson City. She grew up with three brothers and was one of the first classes to go to the Lewis and Clark Middle School. After graduating from high school in 2000, she moved on to the University of Missouri where she majored in communications with a minor in English and theater.
"I did musical theater and stuff like that in high school," Burns said. "So I took those courses for fun in college and when I got close to the end I had enough for a minor. I chose communications because I liked interacting with people and I liked writing."
After graduating, her first job was working for a downtown Columbia entrepreneur who owned several businesses. Her professional title was an assets and business manager, and she oversaw day-to-day operations, interviewed staff and worked with other business managers. She said she got started at a time when social media was just picking up steam, so things like mass emails and Facebook were new to the workplace.
"Now, basically I work as the public information officer for the Office of Administration," she said. "We have different divisions here at the Office of Administration, so it is like handling the different businesses in Columbia."
The office has two spokespeople: one works with internal communications and marketing, while Burns works externally with the media and the public.
"In the field of public relations you always have a plan and different projects and goals that you want to accomplish, but you always have to be prepared to change that plan at a moment's notice," she said.
Burns prepares talking points and speeches as well as press releases. She also develops communication strategies to convey the priorities and accomplishments of her office to the public. Recently she launched an intern program with other state agencies to recruit interns, help sharpen their communication skills, and develop an their interest with working in state government, she said.
She also volunteers for the Helping Art Liberate Orphans Foundation by sharing her skills in communications and previously worked with the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is a vegan who loves fitness and her husband. Together they have a boxer named Gracie-Mae and they love her three nieces very much too, she said.