Team Member Spotlight: Ryan Lee, RA

From the rolling hills of rural Pennsylvania to designing structures that shape communities, Ryan Lee’s journey is rooted in tradition and transformation.

“I’m originally from Susquehanna County—Thompson, Pennsylvania. I grew up there. A nice rural upbringing. We always had cats and dogs and horses. It was a really good childhood.” That small-town foundation continues to influence his values and lifestyle today.

After attending Susquehanna Community High School, where he played a lot of baseball, Ryan pursued a five-year architecture program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “I studied architecture, graduated with a bachelor’s degree, and decided to come back home,” he says. “My wife and I met in high school, so it was nice to return to the area. We wanted to set down roots and be near friends and family.”

Now living in Waymart, Wayne County, in a cozy farmhouse on five acres, Ryan and his wife [name] are embracing a mini-homestead lifestyle. “We’ve got some chickens. I do some beekeeping. Yard work keeps me busy in the summer. We have some pastures—that’s the project this summer, to clear them up, maybe get some animals. We’re homebodies. We’ve got three cats. They occupy probably 90% of our conversation and attention at home—but they’re a blast, we love them.”

At JHA, Ryan has found more than a job—he’s found a place to grow. “JHA has been instrumental in me becoming a licensed architect through their support and through Sierra’s leadership. It’s a real team environment. Everyone is supportive of each other and wants to see each other achieve success. No one’s out there for their own good—it’s for each other’s good.”

Being part of a multidisciplinary firm has given him a broader perspective. “JHA includes architects, engineers, surveyors, and environmental. It’s really expanded my knowledge of what those disciplines do. What an architect does is bring all those disciplines together so a project can be realized.”

When asked what his favorite project is, Ryan doesn’t hesitate. “My favorite project is our next project. Because we’re always building and learning. What keeps me here is knowing that we’re improving, and I’m excited to see what’s next.”

What is Ryan’s favorite part of working at JHA?  “The team environment is my favorite aspect. I like being in our Moosic office. I can bang on Phil’s door or turn around and ask Amy or Ryan. I get feedback—things I haven’t thought of, or new solutions to a problem. It’s synergy. I love that. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.”