#MOTIVATED
Ryan Bradley

February 6, 2018

By Christel Gollnick with Megan Wyeth

CHARACTER TRAIT: Motivated

DEFINITION: Prompted to act towards a goal.

Ryan Bradley is an American figure skater that is known for his humor, love of learning, and ability to fly – over the ice. He is one of only a few U.S. men to land two quadruple jumps in a free skate competition and recently led his team, Bradley’s Brawlers, with a lot of jovial fun and smiles to a win at the 2017 Aerial Figure Skating Challenge.

Bradley was born November 17,1983, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Hanging out at ice rinks since birth with his figure skating sister and parents, he began ice skating at the very young age of 2 in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program. He retired from competitive skating in 2011, but not before becoming the U.S. National Champion that year. He is also the 2008 Skate Canada International silver medalist, the 2009 Skate America bronze medalist, and a three-time U.S. Collegiate champion. Over his competitive career, he collected more than 70 medals in regional, national and world stage events.

Today he shares his love of the sport by coaching at the Broadmoor Skating Club and Colorado Springs World Arena. An avid reader and lover of learning, he also studies business at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs and aspires to earn a graduate degree at the University of Kansas.

Photo Credits: Megan Wyeth for Pronto Cafe and http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/profile/ryan_bradley

#PRESERVATION

St. Joseph is a city of stories. Like historic towns across the country, there are blocks of amazing homes, business buildings and neighborhoods. Founded in 1843, St. Joseph’s location along the Missouri River and national mid-point created an economic and residential boom fueled by Westward expansion, transportation and communication industries.

#FASCINATING

Kristen’s Coin and Jewelry is not just a store. It’s an experience. Think part Fifth Avenue, part antique store, part jewelry design gallery and part coin museum.

#FRIENDLY

Across the city, every day, adults are helping clear a path for youth to reach more opportunities. They are sharing their mentoring skills, life lessons and ultimately, their friendship, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. And it looks like hanging out at the local burger joint. Taking a walk. Joining other “matches” at the park for crafting with a lot of laughs.

#LEADERSHIP

Real change in almost any environment happens from the inside out. And no one knows just how to create the kind of contagious change a community needs like the community members themselves. In St. Joseph, and many communities like it, a revolution is happening around this kind of grassroots-based leadership – and it’s only just begun.

#INDUSTRIOUS

Joe Gray, founder of Gray Manufacturing, began the company with his inventor father, J.H. Gray.