Ryan Ahrens
Easley,SC
Summary
IT Director with extensive leadership experience in manufacturing and a strong focus on cybersecurity, project management, and IT change enablement. Proven track record in reducing production outages to under one hour annually and managing a $2M+ budget, demonstrating operational efficiency and fiscal discipline.
Overview
1
1
Certification
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of IT / Global Head of IT
T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc.
01.2022 - Current
- Drove IT change enablement by reducing production outages from 90+ minutes daily to under one hour per year, achieving 99.999% system uptime.
- Directed major network infrastructure overhaul, consolidating systems and delivering $300,000+ in cost savings.
- Developed and matured enterprise cybersecurity program with Rapid7, SentinelOne, Arctic Wolf, and company-wide security awareness training, strengthening organizational security posture.
- Drove AI adoption across the organization, creating a dedicated AI team and implementing Microsoft Fabric and Copilot solutions.
- Led four IT teams (Security, Operations, ERP/Development, Web) and 23 employees, enhancing collaboration, boosting morale, and accelerating issue resolution.
- Managed $2M+ annual IT budget with strong fiscal discipline, implementing tariff-related spending freezes to optimize resource allocation.
IT Infrastructure / Operations Senior Manager
Audia / Washington Penn Plastic
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Upgraded network infrastructure and VPN capacity immediately prior to COVID-19, enabling seamless remote work transition with zero productivity loss.
- Managed $10M+ annual IT budget, serving as primary IT business partner to foster strong cross-functional relationships.
- Led and developed two technical teams (7 employees) across domestic and international locations, enhancing collaboration and project delivery.
- Delivered multiple concurrent infrastructure projects, coaching and mentoring team members to strengthen skills and achieve project goals.
Senior Application Security Consultant
Highmark
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Advised senior leadership on application security, secure coding practices, and risk remediation strategies.
- Guided teams through identification and resolution of security risks across large-scale projects, protecting over 40 million customers.
- Secured funding for essential security initiatives while mentoring development teams in secure development methodologies.
Senior IT Project Manager
Highmark
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Directed multimillion-dollar technology programs, enhancing cross-functional collaboration to meet project goals.
- Developed and maintained program roadmaps that supported strategic business objectives and guided project execution.
- Partnered with executive sponsors to ensure timely delivery of projects, adhering to budget and scope requirements.
IT Operations Manager / Technical Leader
Clark Hill
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Managed IT operations to ensure seamless technology integration across departments.
- Led project management and technical initiatives for core business applications, ensuring on-time and within-budget delivery of multiple concurrent projects.
- Oversaw system performance and reliability to support organizational goals.
- Developed and implemented IT policies to enhance operational efficiency.
- Built, coached, and mentored customer-facing technical team, establishing best practices that enhanced customer service and technical leadership.
IT Manager – Global Infrastructure
Reed Smith LLP
01.2003 - 01.2013
- Led global IT infrastructure for 4,500+ users in international offices, facilitating firm growth into top 20 largest law firms worldwide.
- Directed team of 5 and external vendors to ensure high system stability in demanding legal environment.
- Designed, built, and optimized 200+ Citrix servers, print clusters, and desktop environments to enhance user experience.
Education
Master of Science - IT Management
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ01-2025
Bachelor of Science - Financial Management
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SCSkills
Certification
- ITIL
- GIAC
- Lean Six Sigma
Timeline
Director of IT / Global Head of IT
T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc.
01.2022 - Current
IT Infrastructure / Operations Senior Manager
Audia / Washington Penn Plastic
01.2018 - 01.2022
Senior Application Security Consultant
Highmark
01.2016 - 01.2018
Senior IT Project Manager
Highmark
01.2014 - 01.2016
IT Operations Manager / Technical Leader
Clark Hill
01.2013 - 01.2014
IT Manager – Global Infrastructure
Reed Smith LLP
01.2003 - 01.2013
Master of Science - IT Management
Grand Canyon University
Bachelor of Science - Financial Management
Bob Jones University