Ryan Traylor, 31

Director of Catering, Mosaic Unique Events


Ask Ryan Traylor what he does at work: mastermind Cleopatra's arrival at a party where desserts drop from a dozen chandeliers, copy a scandalous Truman Capote bash down to the 15-foot martini bar and the next night wrangle 14 TV screens and pool tables into the Science Museum for a sports-bar party for 600.

“It's not work at all — it's fun,” he says of his job as director of catering for Mosaic Unique Events. Traylor has given half his life to the company, starting at age 15 for its grand opening and rising to a leadership position as the business expands to other cities.

The Roanoke native and Radford University graduate brings the same creative drive and detail consciousness to his volunteer work, particularly his involvement with Fetch a Cure, a young nonprofit he co-founded that connects dog owners with information and resources to fight cancer and other diseases.

“What is unique about Ryan is he's so willing to say yes,” says nominator Joanne Silverman, a Fetch staff member. “He's always ready to help whatever organization needs him — Fetch, the International Hospital for Children, the Visual Arts Center and so many others.”

Traylor has personal goals — a cookbook, an online reality series, more business — and philanthropic ones, particularly a local pet center with an oncologist and more fundraising to support animal-health causes. “Richmond is such a dog-loving town,” he says, “and people have really jumped on board.”

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