Ryan Bordenave is a lifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is an alum of Brother Martin High School, having graduated in 1994. He graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1998 and holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications and Advertising. His interests include architecture and urbanism, New Orleans history, piano performance and music in general, culinary and photography.
Ryan has enjoyed a long career in real estate development. For 14 years, he served as the Retail and Real Estate Development Manager for the Downtown Development District of New Orleans. His role was responsible for attracting retail, dining and entertainment concepts to Downtown. At the start of 2022, Ryan returned to private real estate development and practice. He owns and maintains three historic residential properties in New Orleans. Additionally, he has a robust pipeline of commercial clients that keep him engaged in office and retail environments. Ryan’s real estate license is affiliated with Sydney Anderson Realty, a boutique commercial firm based in New Orleans.
In addition to his work with the DDD he is a media consultant for NPR member station WWNO 89.9 FM. For the past 15 years, he was responsible for sponsorship and underwriting development, which is a major source of the station’s operating revenue. As of July 2023, he will transition to a new role as Events Manager and will be producing listener meet ups and major shows.
Outside of his work with the DDD and WWNO he is involved with a number of non-profit organizations. He is currently serving on Brother Martin High School’s Alumni Board. He has done volunteer work with City Park of New Orleans, the Young Leadership Council, Hike for Katreena, City Year, Good.is, St Peter Claver Catholic Church and Hands on New Orleans.
His most proud accomplishment was the restoration of two neo-classical revival houses in the Mid-City / City Park neighborhood. A fan of this neighborhood since he was 14 years old, he has rebuilt both properties, having taken them down to the stud walls. Both properties were acknowledged by the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.
In 2021, Ryan was invited by Bright Sun Films to share his experience related to his employment at Jazzland, The Park and Six Flags New Orleans. The production team told the story of the park in their documentary, “Closed for Storm.” From 2000 to 2006, Ryan served as the Advertising, Sponsorships and Promotions Manager for New Orleans' own regional theme park. The park closed in 2005 following a devastating hurricane that flooded the City of New Orleans.
