Ryan Finke

About Ryan Finke

I believe in the power of connection. As an extrovert, I thrive on cultivating relationships—and as a follower of Christ, I am driven by a desire to represent Jesus through my words and actions. Today, as the CEO of International Friendships, Inc.(IFI), I get to combine these passions every single day.FROM UX DESIGN TO MINISTRYMy career didn\'t start in ministry leadership. After earning my B.S. in Graphic Communication Design from the University of Cincinnati, I spent eight years working as a Website Developer and UX Designer.Everything changed in 2010. My wife and I asked our pastor how we could get more involved in our community, and he pointed us to IFI. We attended one Bible study with international students and were instantly hooked. What started as a volunteer opportunity became a lifelong calling. In 2015, we moved to Columbus so I could officially join the IFI staff as Communications Director.Over the next seven years, I transitioned into the role of Strategy Director, where I drew heavily on my background in design thinking and systems. I focused on leading teams, identifying organizational gaps, and building the infrastructure needed to support our strategic goals. In February 2024, I was incredibly humbled to step into the role of CEO.WHAT WE DO AT IFIAt IFI, our foundation is simple yet profound: Hospitality and Discipleship. We bridge the gap between local Christians and international students through genuine acts of service—whether that means providing temporary housing, sharing a holiday meal, offering rides, or simply being a conversation buddy.As we build these authentic friendships, students often become curious about our faith. There is nothing more fascinating than watching God’s Spirit at work. When students are open-minded and genuine, that curiosity frequently leads them to experience the love of Jesus Christ.MY \"WHY\"Beyond my work, I am a devoted husband and father, deeply grateful for my family and the Christian community we are immersed in. I constantly lean on the reminder found in Ephesians 2:10:\"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.\"I want to be near to God and witness what He is doing, because seeing lives transformed brings me profound joy and enriches my soul.Whether you are interested in partnering with IFI, talking about strategic ministry leadership, or simply sharing stories of what God is doing in your community, I would love to connect!

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   International Friendships, Inc.

   Feb 2024 — Present · Columbus, OH, US

   I have the privilege to lead an incredible non-profit ministry that impacts international college students\' lives in the US and beyond. Our mission is to extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus.

Education

• University of Cincinnati

  BS, Graphic Communication Design

  2009 — 2014

Skills

• Wordpress
• Graphic Design
• User Experience
• Video Production
• After Effects
• Photoshop
• Front-End Development
• Web Design
• User Interface Design
• Html5
• Javascript
• Social Media
• Premier
• Responsive Web Design
• Php
• Adobe Audition
• Actionscript
• Adobe Fireworks
• Flash
• Web Development
• SEO
• Css
• Photography
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Mysql
• Fireworks
• Xhtml
• Ajax
• Jquery
• Interaction Design
• User Experience Design
• Marketing Communications
• Illustrator
• Communications Planning
• Information Architecture
• Css3
• Visual Communication