WBJ Young Professionals in Marketing – Ryan Schafer

Ryan is a valued member of our Marketing team at High Touch, where he serves as a Creative Lead and Brand Manager for our Nigel restaurant management point of sale (POS) platform. Ryan’s role encompasses the creative direction, copywriting, and brand management for the Nigel brand. As an agile and multitalented professional, Ryan also handles numerous other responsibilities that contribute to the success of Nigel, its projects, and its initiatives.

Getting Started in Marketing

In the recent article featured in the WBJ, Ryan shared how his passion for marketing took root when he started creating ridiculous taglines for his friends’ businesses during their Youth Entrepreneurs class. “Getting paid to try and be clever sounded like a great gig,” he laughs.

Little did he know that these creative endeavors would pave the way for his journey into the world of marketing.

While completing his bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communication at Wichita State University, Ryan eagerly stepped into the marketing world. During this time, he had the opportunity to complete an internship at Jajo, a pivotal moment in his career. Here, he crossed paths with a mentor who would leave a mark on his professional development—Jason Fortune. Under Jason’s guidance, Ryan’s creativity was nurtured and honed.

During his internship, instead of immediately diving into writing, Ryan was given a treasure trove of copywriting and creativity books. This unconventional approach, coupled with Jason’s unwavering support, allowed Ryan to absorb knowledge and lay the foundation for his flourishing career. Looking back, Ryan fondly recalls his time at Jajo as a formative experience where his creativity was harnessed and his potential began to blossom.

The valuable lessons learned during his internship propelled Ryan forward, leading to subsequent roles as a copywriter at RSA (now RSM Marketing) and Koch Creative Group before joining the High Touch team in 2021. Ryan’s passion for marketing and his innate storytelling abilities have consistently elevated his contributions to marketing and High Touch.

Embracing New Frontiers

Marketing is an ever-evolving landscape, and in his interview with the WBJ, Ryan acknowledges the current challenges the industry is facing. “Nothing. This is fine. Everything’s fine,” Ryan quips before elaborating. “Really though, I think the mainstream emergence of AI is already changing the marketing landscape. The challenge is how marketers can use it to our advantage while still maintaining creative integrity.”

Ryan’s love for creating stories that entertain and resonate with people fuels his commitment to the marketing profession. “As long as audiences and employers value storytelling in marketing, this will be my profession,” Ryan states confidently.

We are delighted to congratulate Ryan Schafer on receiving the Young Professionals in Marketing Award from the WBJ and incredibly grateful to have his talents on our High Touch team. This recognition is a testament to Ryan’s exceptional skills, unwavering passion, and dedication to the marketing field.

To learn more about Nigel, the full-scale restaurant management POS platform supported by Ryan, click here or visit nigel.com.