Mr. Ryan C. Farnan, a senior account manager at Google, Inc. since 2012, has excelled in securing food and beverage accounts, including being part of a team that signed the largest upfront deal in the entire Google Brand Sector in 2014. In his tenure, Mr. Farnan has sold and executed numerous multi-million dollar live streams and client events, winning a sector award for doubling the company quota for the normal client load (while understaffed) and receiving top-level internal ratings for his sales performance and ease in accepting expanded roles. He is a co-founder and executive director of the Level Field Foundation, a non-profit trust that has been dedicated to the funding of athletic facilities such as East Greenbush’s Jaime M. Adams Field, the first four-sport facility specially designed for disabled youth, and Norfolk Park’s Walker Field for the thousands of disadvantaged inner city youth in Mattapan, Massachusetts.

One of the most gifted, enthusiastic students in the Class of 2002, Mr. Farnan received the Harvard Book Award and Dartmouth Club Award in his junior year. He served as the president of the National Honor Society, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and senior class treasurer. Cited as “a selfless teammate” by his former coach, James Obermayer—Mr. Farnan played varsity basketball and captained the golf team. Hevolunteered with the Elks Disabled Basketball League and East Greenbush Miracle League, and served as a lector at his parish. He received numerous awards in his senior year, but one stands out: nominated by the faculty, Mr. Farnan received the 2002 Scholars’ Recognition Award from the Albany Times Union. “Ryan had a commitment to excellence in all endeavors—he is perhaps the most accomplished yet humble student I’ve ever taught,” recalls Fred Rudofsky, Mr. Farnan’s former English 11 Honors and Journalism teacher.

Following his graduation from Columbia, Mr. Farnan made the most of his undergraduate opportunities atBoston College. A marketing major in the school’s business honors program, he minored in film studies. He was the award-winning head manager of an eight-manager staff for the men’s basketball program—collecting and analyzing hundreds of game tapes as the team’s video coordinator and supervising the logistics of away game travel, including meals, transportation and practices. During Mr. Farnan’s tenure as manager, the team enjoyed great success, including a 2006 NCAA Sweet 16 playoff berth. He wrote features for the schoolnewspaper and served as producer, actor and director of marketing for The B.C., a TV/internet comedy series that enjoyed over 300, 000 web hits and extensive media coverage of its unique cast of students and college faculty. In 2006, he graduated from Boston College magna cum laude, and began working immediately.

At Forrester Research, Inc. in Cambridge, Mr. Farnan reported directly to the CEO, and worked as a special project leader of a research team that he hired and managed for multi-million dollar analysis projects. Meanwhile, Mr. Farnan participated in food drive initiatives through various Boston College Alumni regional events and mentored youth through Big Brothers of Massachusetts. In 2012, after an internship with Hewlett-Packard, he earned an MBA degree with distinction from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and was hired by Google, Inc. One of his most gratifying endeavors while in Chicago has been taking part in Google’s “Resumes for Veterans” program, working with the U.S. military to help veterans optimize their search for employment. Peter Citrolo, a retired kindergarten physical education teacher and coach, offers this assessment of his former student: “With his hard work and intelligence, Ryan Farnan could serve as a teaching lesson on how to get ahead, overcome obstacles, and make this world a better place.”