Re-Thinking Your Business

Courses & Trainings

My online courses teach practical frameworks for small businesses & entrepreneurs. No get rich quick scams here, just tried and true methods for building successful busineses.

Yes, You Still Need a Website

Website Development

I build websites that help small businesses look their best, engage customers, and grow sales. With over 20 years experience I build high-impact sites for awesome clients.

Inspire & Ignite

Consulting & Speaking

Need help in getting unstuck? Whether that’s mentoring entrepreneurs or inspiring entire audiences, I will help you unlock potential and unleash action.

Here’s the deal

I believe that small towns, small cities and rust belt communities have the power to re-write their story and transform themselves at the intersection of entrepreneurship and community… I’m seeing that happen in my hometown of Utica, NY where I am the Director of the thINCubator – a local incubator and co-working facility where I’ve worked with over 400 entrepreneurs and want-repreneurs (folks who WANT to start a venture but don’t know how to get started).

Through advising, mentoring and teaching I’ve developed online versions of my programs to give you a strong foundation and tactical skills you need to be successful in your business.

I also know that small businesses need great websites, AND marketing strategies and a great story to make them stand out in the marketplace, and I can handle your website build from start to finish.

And I’m passionate about working with communities who want to empower creatives, artists and entrepreneurs to build a better future. If you’re part of a municipality, educational institution or company that is serious about making change happen, I’d love to help.

RBS Newsletter

Get timely news, podcast updates and business tips by signing up for my newsletter.

Happy Clients

Boilermaker
What's Upstate NY
Climb Chiropractic
Be - Life Art Magic
The Social Suite
Coalition for a Prosperous America
Common Thread CSA
MVCC's thINCubator
Destination ADK
RBS TOOLKITS

COURSES & TRAININGS

Big Ideas Start Small

I’ve worked with hundreds of new entrepreneurs, helping them take their business idea from pipe dream to profit. As a Mentor, Coach, Consultant, and Speaker, I’ve built actionable toolkits and tactile business growth solutions that accelerate small businesses.

These online sprints are designed as self-paced courses or supported with mentorship and accountability meetings. Let’s get to work.

Website Development

Looking for someone who can deliver you a sleek, no-nonsense website for your company or personal brand? Need responsive design? Check. Need commerce integration? Check. Need a design you can be proud of? Check. Need to do it all on a super-reasonable budget? Check.

I’m a WordPress nerd.

WordPress is a platform that’s easy to learn, robust, and is constantly being updated to integrate the latest web standards. I utilize multiple frameworks and plugins that allow for easy and flexible updating of the site. Utilizing WordPress also does not bind the client to any one host or service such as SquareSpace or any proprietary CMS system, therefore the site can be moved between servers or hosts, and updated without difficulty. Don’t trust your brand to one of those free site builders and you don’t need to pay huge development fees. Ready to get started? Good. Projects start at only $1,500.

Recent Projects
Boilermaker
thincubator
What's Upstate NY
Ryan Miller Keynote

Watch ‘3 Truths & A Lie’ – Keynote from MagnifiU Voices

Speaking & Consulting

Small businesses, colleges, high schools, and community organizations hire me as a keynote speaker to get their teams thinking about what the future might hold for their industry or organization. I love speaking about entrepreneurial ecosystems, leveraging technologies or inspiring young people towards action or helping organizations change the way they think and work.

Topics that are right in my wheelhouse include The Connection Economy, Digital Storytelling, Strategic Branding, Customer Experience, Community Development and much more. Ready to get started?

Endorsements
Encore Media Agency
Victoria Bracco
Founder, Encore Media Agency

Your insights and suggestions have shed light on areas that needed attention, and your thoughtful feedback has been a catalyst for positive change. I truly appreciate the time and effort you invested in providing me with such valuable guidance. Your expertise and critical eye will undoubtedly help me ensure that the website achieves its full…
read more

Rust Belt Startup Gear
Kathy Donovan

What can I say? I suppose I will start with the traditional thank you for doing what you do – begin such an inspiration for so many. You have an immense amount of compassion, grace and assertiveness that I so appreciate! I never feel “man-sprained” and I thank you for that! We were so fortunate to have you in the Utica area.

Dawn Pace Artist
Dawn Pace

“You rock Ryan!! If anybody gets the chance to work with Ryan he is amazing and is full of great experiences and stories.”

Wendy Barrett

I just wanted to say I appreciated your insights, your enthusiasm, your humor, and your comfort with being “real.”  It can’t be that easy to talk so comfortably to a blank screen for three-quarters of an hour while you’re counseling an obvious non-techie.  But you did so with panache.  (Do people even use that word anymore?)

Tony Lomazzo | Marathon Staffing
VP, Marathon Deployment

We at Marathon Deployment want to thank the gifted people at Rust Belt Startup for simplifying the web page creation process, making the voyage bearable and the end result impressive and spot-on.

Your sensible “easy does it” and logical approach helped our company succeed and transform the Marathon Deployment vision into a well-defined website. Your team listened to our vision, extracted our core ideas and business knowledge and molded it into an incredible story board with content and illustrations.

Angela Militello | Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce

I love the new site, and I love how I understand it and have control – so much better than what we had before.  We have lacked this tool for too long, and I know I speak on all of our behalves when I say a huge THANK YOU for the speed and attention you’ve given to the project!!