Getting to Know Each Other

As I’ve been meeting new people, one of the first questions they ask is about my background.  Really, I think I’m just like many of you.  I’m committed to my family and community, and I have demonstrated that commitment through my civic service and business experience.


Family and Education

Like a lot of us in Provo – my wife Amy and I met at BYU.  We have lived in Provo for over 12 years and we have four (smart and super cute) children.

I studied political science at BYU.  As an undergraduate I had the special opportunity to be an intern at the Utah State Legislature for my dad, Lloyd Frandsen who represented South Jordan.  I guess you could say I really got my start in politics by helping my dad with his campaigns.

Following graduation I worked in the market research industry for a few years before entering business school at the University of New Mexico where I earned an MBA with a concentration in Policy and Planning.


Am I Qualified?

I believe I have a unique mix of professional government and private sector experiences that Provo needs right now. Soon after earning my MBA I took a position at Nu Skin in their marketing research department. I was, along with many others, subject to cost cutting measures while at Nu Skin and was laid off in 2006.   I can empathize with those who have had to drive home and tell their spouses that they have just lost their job. It was an experience I hope to never go through again. I know first hand how critical economic stability is.

Through some fortunate connections I soon found a job working on Congressman Chris Cannon’s re-election campaign.  Following the successful campaign I was hired to work in the Congressional office in Washington DC as a legislative analyst.  It was a thrill and an honor to work with some of the brightest minds in our nation’s capitol.  I assisted the Congressman on issues regarding military affairs, education, social security, and small business.

Following my time in the Congressman’s office I worked as the Chief Operating Officer with Franchise Foundry, a business development firm.  We helped launch a number of start-up franchise systems with numerous units throughout the country.  Currently I help young businesses establish credit lines and secure other sources of funding as the Small Business Funding Director for Prosper Inc. in Provo.


Am I Really Committed to Provo? 

I have served on the Provo City Planning Commission and I am currently a board member of the Provo Foundation. I’ve volunteered and worked on several local campaigns including Mayor Curtis, Laura Cabanilla, Gary Winterton, and Gary Garrett.

Click this link to see my family's recent volunteer efforts with the flood damage clean-up in Lion's Park.


I love to spend time with my family (my campaign schedule has to work around soccer games.) BYU football and basketball, gardening, Downton Abbey and Dancing with the Stars make up my ”just for fun list.” I also have a fondness for chocolate donuts.

The best part about a campaign is meeting people. I hope to meet you soon.  Please visit my events page for upcoming debates and cottage meetings.  If you have specific questions call anytime.

Sincerely,

Ryan
801.369.5790

Cottage Meeting

I had a great time visiting the Riverside Neighborhood last night.  Special thanks to Kim Scoville for hosting and Jeff Rust and Gary Winterton for being the co-hosts.

From left to right: Jeff Rust, Ryan Frandsen, Councilman Gary Winterton.

Coming Together

Me with former Neighborhood Chair Kristi Jensen

Over the weekend my family and I helped clean up some of the flood damage in Lion's Park.  The huge storm Provo experienced several weeks ago left the west-side stair case covered in rocks, mud, and dirt.

It was tough work for sure!  When we arrived at 9am, there were just a handful of volunteers and the task looked daunting.  We were met at the bottom of the hill by a volunteer coordinator from Parks and Recreation.  She directed us to some 5 gallon buckets that people were already starting to fill half full with rocks and dirt that had eroded from the hillside to the bottom of the hill and steps. We then had to carry those buckets up the steps and deposit the dirt and rocks into the different trenches that the water had carved out of the hill.

With just a handful of early arrivals we started carrying the buckets up the hill.  It was heavy and hard work.  My kids together with some other children, would take the buckets that had been carried up the steps, dump them in the trenches then run them back down the hill to be refilled and carried back up the hill.  We did that for about 20 - 30 minutes, until the cavalry arrived.  More and more volunteers started trickling in from the neighborhood and then a large group of BYU students arrived and the machine really got rolling!

With the BYU crew now helping we could form a sort of fire bucket brigade.  The buckets were still heavy but many hands made for quick work.  By the time we left the huge dirt pile at the bottom of the hill was removed and the crews started working up the hill shoveling off the dirt that had piled up further up the steps.

It was great to see so many people from the community come together and help.  Lion's park is a beautiful place. My children have played soccer games there and we've had a number of church and other activities in the pavilion.  It felt wonderful to be able to help with a project so close to home.

Thank you to all the neighbors who helped and thank you to all those BYU student's with the strong backs and shoulders!

Below are few more photos of the the crew in action.

Brent Hall filling buckets

Frandsen kids running buckets back down the hill.

Bucket brigade starting to take shape

The full machine in motion!