YEARS WITH RICCA
4 years
EDUCATION
Villanova University, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
The Hartt School PTTP, University of Hartford, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
AFFILIATIONS
FCSI Associate
RYAN MIKITA
Principal | New York, NY
As a Principal, Ryan is heavily involved in planning, concept, and schematic design, and oversees the design process through construction. He creates and drives the project vision, adheres to programming, and provides strategic planning. Ryan is the leader of the culinary design team and is ultimately responsible for upholding the client’s design intent for the duration of the project lifecycle.
BACKGROUND
Ryan got his start in food service as many do, he started out as a server in a bustling New York City restaurant in Times Square. Since that time, Ryan has gone from working in operations to planning and designing for complex construction projects for clients in New York City and all over the world.
A creative problem solver at his roots, Ryan attended the University of Hartford’s Hartt School where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Following nearly a decade of working in and around New York City’s finest establishments, Ryan stepped into a design role at Patina Restaurant Group. In this role, Ryan managed the design & construction process for nearly every single PRG construction project—design-build, phased construction, renovations, and routine maintenance.
Ryan was often responsible for defining the initial scope of projects, fielding/evaluating vendor proposals, and ultimately managing each project from the beginning all the way through to construction, permitting, and close-out. He was also typically the central point-of-contact for the project team—designers, engineers, contractors/vendors, landlords, the health department, and over government agencies, all in addition to internal stakeholders and executives.
Ryan joined Ricca Design Studios in 2018 and leads Ricca’s New York City studio from Brooklyn. He brings operational expertise, creative solutions, and detail-oriented project management to all projects—those in New York City, the rest of the US, or across International waters.
SELECT EXPERIENCE - ALL MARKETS
Bronx Terminal Food Bazaar, Food Hall, Bronx, NY
Mount Nittany Health, State College, PA
Confidential High Tech Company, Central Catering Kitchen, Redmond, WA
Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club, Hamilton, Bermuda
Viceroy Sugar Beach, Soufriere, Saint Lucia
Confidential K-12 Project, Multiple Locations
Guilty pleasure?
Karaoke!
What surprises people about you?
Most people are surprised to learn that I've been a regular practitioner of Zen Meditation for nearly a decade now.
Favorite Vacation?
Kyoto, Japan - a seriously magical place.
If you could take a 6-month sabbatical, what would you do?
I'd rent a treehouse in Bali and spend 6 months on the beach, completely unplugged from the World - eating all the mangoes.
What food could you not live without?
Dim sum.
What's your signature dish?
Rack of lamb (medium rare!) finished in a balsamic reduction; served with asparagus and fingerlings potatoes.
