Ryan Came for Freedom.
Elevate Work Helped Him Build a Future.
When Ryan Fain came to Branson in late 2023, he was not looking for a fresh start.
At first, Ryan struggled to trust the people around him. “My first month was pretty rough,” he said. “I’d been living in the drug world my whole life and didn’t trust nobody.” Over time, however, something began to change.
That transformation accelerated when Ryan enrolled in Elevate Work, Elevate Branson’s workforce development program designed to help people gain the skills, mindset, and confidence needed to find and maintain meaningful employment. Elevate Work teaches people how to get a job and keep a job, because the only way out of poverty is work.
For Ryan, the lessons extended far beyond resumes and interview preparation. “The stuff in Elevate Work was stuff I’d heard before but nothing I’d ever applied to my life,” he said. “I just worked when I wanted to.” Through the program, Ryan began developing habits that would become the foundation for lasting change: responsibility, consistency, accountability, and a new perspective on work. What began as a class soon became a turning point in his life.
As Ryan embraced the principles he learned in Elevate Work, he started to see possibilities for his future that he had never seriously considered. The confidence and discipline Ryan gained through Elevate Work eventually inspired him to take the next step by enrolling in Elevate Entrepreneurs, an eight-week course for aspiring business owners.
Drawing on years of automotive experience, Ryan used the program’s business planning, marketing, and financial coaching resources to launch his own mobile mechanic business. Yet Ryan believes the foundation for that success was established in Elevate Work. Before the program, he knew how to repair vehicles. What he lacked was a framework for building a stable and productive life around those skills. Elevate Work helped provide that structure.
Today, his business continues to grow. “I’m getting more and more jobs,” Ryan said. “I now have people calling and messaging me every day.” In addition to running his business, Ryan works part-time with Elevate Rides, helping provide reliable transportation for area residents. The position allows him to earn steady income while continuing to expand his mobile mechanic business customer base.
Most importantly, Ryan’s transformation has reached far beyond employment. His renewed stability has helped him rebuild relationships with his four children. “I’m very proud of him,” said his 16-year-old son, Mason. “Now that he’s completed the program, he calls me all the time. He just shows up more. I’m so happy he’s back on his feet, working and running his own business.”
For Ryan, the greatest lesson was not learning how to start a business. It was discovering what was possible when he committed to doing things differently. “That you can do anything you put your mind to,” he said. “This is a whole different life than I’d been living.”
Today, Ryan is fully invested in the life he has built. His journey may have begun with a court order, but Elevate Work helped him develop the habits, confidence, and sense of purpose needed to create a new future.
For Ryan, Elevate Branson has made all the difference.