Page 5 - BusinessWest June 12, 2023

Ryan McCollum
Owner, RMC Strategies
When he became a member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2012, Ryan McCollum had already established an impres- sive track record of entrepreneurship, community involve- ment, and simply being an advocate for, and supporter of, the West- ern Mass. region and its business community.
Indeed, at that time, he had established RMC Strategies, a full- service consulting and government-relations firm, as a force in the region. Meanwhile, he was involved in civic work — and helping to promote and strengthen the 413 — on many levels, from his work to help launch the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield to his service on the board of Best Buddies.
To say that, over the past 11 years, he has only built on this deep and impressive résumé would be a huge understatement.
As an entrepreneur, he has established two new ventures — Shoe Leather, a text-messaging marketing company, and Goldilox, an online payment platform for candidates and nonprofits — and he is also part-owner of a cannabis dispensary set to open this fall in Mon- son, part of the growing portfolio of Holyoke-based DAZE, one of his clients at RMC.
Speaking of RMC, McCollum continues to grow that venture and take it in different directions. Indeed, while he still handles political campaigns — he served as consultant to Joshua Garcia in his suc- cessful bid to become the first Latino Mayor of Holyoke in 2021,
for example — he continues to build his client list and, recently, his portfolio of work as a lobbyist. When he spoke with BusinessWest, McCollum was driving to Boston to lobby for the Coalition for an Equitable Economy. He’s also done some lobbying for a company looking to enable small businesses — bars, restaurants, and private clubs — to be a part of the burgeoning sports-betting scene across the state.
“We fight to conquer and dismantle systemic racism through education, community outreach, and intensive support of those in the same battles.”
But it’s his ongoing efforts to expand his volunteer work within the community that is perhaps most impressive.
Indeed, the current list of agencies and causes he’s involved with includes Suit Up Springfield and Square One, which he serves as a board member; Roca, which he serves as an advisory board mem- ber; the Springfield Museums, where he has been a member of the marketing and communications committee; the Children’s Museum in Holyoke, for which he was a celebrity dancer for its Fancy Steps fundraiser this year; and many others. He’s even involved in work to help bring others into the game of golf, a sport he discovered years ago and is now somewhat passionate about.
“If ever Ryan leaves a board, he immediately joins two more,” wrote Timothy Allen, principal at Birchland Park Middle School in East Longmeadow and a 40 Under Forty winner himself (class of 2013), who nominated McCollum for the AAA. “Despite the success of his personal business, it is still the community side of his work that drives his daily motivation.”
Increasingly, this work in the community has involved efforts to combat racism and level the playing field for all residents of the 413 — and beyond.
McCollum is now a board member for the Healing Racism Insti- tute of Pioneer Valley as well as the National Conference for Com- munity and Justice, and he recently became a member of the Long- meadow Coalition for Racial Justice Task Force. And then, there’s the recently formed nonprofit he founded (with 15 friends and col- leagues, many of them involved in education) called 16 Lyrics.
“We fight to conquer and dismantle systemic racism through education, community outreach, and intensive support of those in the same battles,” he said of the agency’s mission statement. “Our first initiative has been to provide kids with books that have diverse
Richard F. Burkhart, CPA and Salvatore J. Pizzanelli, CPA, JD, PFS
The talented team at Burkhart Pizzanelli
Accounting
Julie M. Quink, CPA and Deborah J. Penzias, CPA
The talented team at Burkhart Pizzanelli provides
provides expertise in a full range of accounting
and financial services. Feel free to call on us at Consulting 413.734.9040.Feel free to call on us at 413.734.9040.
expertise in a full range of accounting and financial services.
201 Park Avenue, Suite 2, West Springfield, MA
201 Park Avenue, Suite 2 • West SpringfieldR, eMtAir0e1m08e9nt Plans T: 413.734.9040 • F: 413.781.5609
T: 413.734.9040 • F: 413.781.5609 • www.bppc.com www.bppc.com Tax Planning
ACCOUNTING • CONSULTING • LITIGATION • RETIREMENT PLANS • TAX PLANNING
Litigation
to our friend
Ryan McCollum
and all of the
40 Under 40 Honorees
ART • HISTORY • SCIENCE • SEUSS IN SPRINGFIELD
SpringfieldMuseums.org • #AtTheMuseums
BusinessWest
<< FEATURE >>
JUNE 12, 2023 5