Ryan Harman was born in a small town in West Virginia. Ryan learned early to appreciate the outdoors and spent much of his youth chasing after the trout and small-mouth bass of the Allegheny mountain range. After moving to Western North Carolina in 1998, Ryan revitalized his passion for fly fishing through his involvement with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (PHWFF).
In 2007, he began laying the groundwork for the first PHWFF programs in Western Carolina by establishing a non-profit designation for the NC Fly Fishing Team, based on the therapeutic benefits derived from the sport of fly fishing and the educational opportunities available to the Team. One of the first such designations granted to a Competitive Fly-Fishing Team in the United States.
In 2008, he opened the first NC Project Healing Waters Program in Asheville NC, serving as its program lead until 2011 when he assumed the role of Mid-South Regional Coordinator. In that position Ryan was active in the creation of over 15 additional PHWFF Programs in NC, SC, and GA, ultimately necessitating the need for the creation of two new regions.
In 2011, Ryan accepted a position on the PHWFF Board of Trustees where he served until the end of his term in 2017. During this tenure he worked on the Program Committee, Finance Committee, and Chaired the Development Committee 2015-2017. He contributed to the creation of the Organization’s Code of Ethics, and the development of a training curriculum to support volunteer’s interactions with disabled veterans.
In 2015 he co-founded PHWFF Camp Keystone, a multi-day camp that integrates life skill training into the PHWFF mission to improve relationships between disabled veterans and their spouses or primary care givers. This work garnered Mr. Harman the 2015 Advisor with Heart Award. A national honor presented to individuals in the financial advisory business who have championed major philanthropic causes and in 2018 Ryan was recognized with a PHWFF Patriot Award; the Organizations most prestigious award.
Committed to the physical, physiological, and emotional rehabilitative qualities found in fly fishing and tying, Ryan continues to look for new and innovative ways to introduce people to the healing properties of the sport. He has been a strong supporter and sponsor of the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachains through a developing partnership and via fund raising.
Ryan Harmon – Inducted in the Humanity category for his dedication to fly fishing as a volunteer leader, conservationist, fly fisher, competitive fly fisher and co-founder of PHWFF Camp Keystone.
