Ryan Zynger got his start about 15 years ago, doing down-home events like barbecues and petting zoos for a Canadian military family resource center in Victoria, British Columbia. After moving to Los Angeles in 2000, he worked as the event manager for the California Science Center, where he spent eight years before moving on to work with CauseForce, a for-profit company that produces fund-raising events for nonprofits with ties to cancer research. Zynger left CauseForce to start his own production and consulting firm, Zynger Event Designs Inc., last year.
Through the new business, he handles production management and venue selection, and oversees audiovisual production, food and beverage service, decor, branding, security, and parking. Zynger focuses on nonprofit work. “I had been thinking about doing my own thing for a while,” he says. “I [realized] I could get up every day and be excited about what I did and get paid for it.”
Since launching Zynger Event Designs, he has worked with Sequoia Productions on projects for Emirates Airlines, handled events for Tourism Australia, is working on nonprofit Break the Cycle’s October Savor the Season tasting benefit, and landed a contract with the American Association of Museums, which is organizing a conference for about 5,000 guests in May 2010 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. “My approach is to make sure that everyone I’m working for looks good—supporting nonprofits is what I enjoy doing,” says Zynger.
In April, he worked on a launch for Margarita Mix Santa Monica/L.A. Studios, an audio post-production facility. “Ryan’s enthusiasm, professionalism, and execution at our launch party created a successful beginning for our company’s new adventure. His dedication and smooth workflow made for an event that was fresh, exciting, and—most important—enjoyable for our guests,” says Margarita Mix’s Whitney Warren. “And he was able to creatively accomplish our lower-budget needs.”
As for growth potential, Zynger says, “I’m a small company, and right now it’s a lot more economical for companies to hire a consultant rather than a big production company. For now I’m happy doing something that I really like and enjoy—I don’t want to get huge and greedy.”
