Leading by Example at Work and at Home

For Ryan Wells, the best part of working in the rental industry is the people.

As District Manager for Texas First Rentals at the Irving Branch, Ryan sees firsthand how quickly the work can shift from routine to high-pressure. Teams are often asked to solve problems in real time, support customers through unexpected challenges and keep moving even when the day does not go according to plan. For Ryan, those moments are also where the best parts of the job show up.

“It’s 100% the people,” Ryan said. “I see people handle stressful situations every day, deal with some of the most surreal events and constantly have their backs pushed against the wall. What I enjoy is the overwhelming victories and how this company and team come together and accomplish so much.”

That appreciation for people has shaped the way Ryan leads his team. He is grateful for the group around him and values the way they show up for one another, for customers and for the company every day.

Ryan has also had the opportunity to watch that same work ethic take shape in his son, Carson Wells. Carson is currently a college intern for Texas First Rentals at the Lancaster Branch and is enrolled at Texas Tech. He has spent the past seven summers working with Texas First Rentals and is expected to move into a full-time role after graduating this fall.

For Ryan, watching Carson grow with the company has been one of the most meaningful parts of this chapter.

“With Carson, it’s been an amazing experience,” Ryan said. “He’s been working summers here for the past seven years and is set to go full-time once he graduates this fall.”

Ryan said it means a lot to hear sales representatives and team members from other stores talk about how much they have missed Carson and how much they look forward to his return. Seeing Carson earn that kind of respect through his own work has been especially rewarding.

“I’m excited to see how much more he’ll grow with this company,” Ryan said. “And I can honestly say that I’ve said, ‘Yeah, that’s my son.’”

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. His hobbies include bike riding, walking, hiking, bowling and cheering on his Georgia Bulldogs. His favorite trips are the ones he and his family take to Colorado several times a year, where they take their Jeep into the mountains to off-road and hike.

Ryan and his wife, Heather, have been married for 14 years and have two sons: Carson and their oldest son Garrett, who lives in Waxahachie.

When asked what one word his kids would use to describe him, Ryan chose “awesome.”

“I’ve always wanted to be that cool dad, someone my boys could look up to and say, ‘Yeah, that’s my dad,’” Ryan said.

His boys have watched him grow in his career, take on challenges and even race bikes in his 40s, with a few wins along the way. More than anything, Ryan hopes the example he sets encourages his sons to keep growing, working hard and becoming better.

This Father’s Day, Texas First Rentals is honored to recognize Ryan Wells, a leader, teammate and father whose example is felt by his team, his family and the next generation following in his footsteps.