Volunteer Spotlight: Ryan de Jong ’05

Degree and Graduations Year: B.S. Agricultural Business Management, minor Economics – 2005 College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Volunteer Since: 2009

Volunteer Groups: Alumni Association Board of Directors and Tampa Bay Regional Alumni Network

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrdejong/

Tell us about yourself! Who are you when you aren’t volunteering for NC State?
I am a native of Terra Ceia, NC where I helped my parents and grandparents working on the dairy and in the fields. I moved to Tampa, FL shortly after graduation where I co-founded Axis Group, a brokerage for insurance products and business services. I’m passionate about supporting brain tumor research and the families it impacts through Fighter Foundation, a 501c3, non-profit I started in 2016 after Michelle’s life was taken prematurely by Glioblastoma. I love spending time and sharing life’s adventures with my wife, Trish, our chihuahua, Bow, and our tabby cat Spar. There isn’t a home improvement project I won’t take on because the work of making a house a home is never finished. I enjoy cooking, running, cycling, swimming and I’ve competed in marathons & triathlons all over the country. My second home is my boat, the beach, and anywhere in or on the water and somewhere among all these things, I’m also a part-time Airbnb host.

Why did you decide to volunteer for NC State?
During my junior fall semester at NC State, I visited a friend in NYC. We walked to a BBQ restaurant in lower Manhattan called Brother Jimmy’s. Coincidently, the entire restaurant was PACKed with NC State alumni & fans. Apparently, it was the headquarters for the local alumni network. It happened again when I moved to Tampa. I may not remember all the people I met, or the conversations we had specifically, I remember how it made me feel. I volunteer for NC State so that I can share my passion for our alma mater and ensure that others can feel the connection to community the way I did at those events.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering for NC State? What was your most meaningful volunteer experience?
The fulfillment and joy that I feel from volunteering for the NC State Alumni Association is because of the extraordinary alumni, family, and fans with whom I have the pleasure to serve. I get the opportunity to live multigenerational alumni experiences through their stories. Sharing our NC State stories strengthens the common bond with our alma matter. My most meaningful volunteer experience is the next one! This job is one that just keeps getting better and better!

In what ways do you give back to the Pack?
Time: Tampa network event planning, hosting, network development, social media communications, and financial support for networking events. I volunteer time, consulting, and leadership through our Board of Directors. I give to our alumni impact fund, Caldwell Fellows, LAN & BAS scholarship funds and I LOVE participating in Day of Giving. I am a member of the Chancellor’s Circle.

What is your favorite memory from NC State?
One of my best college friends liked to say, “The times you can’t remember are the times you’ll never forget!” We made incredible memories, and our group of friends grew from boys to men during those years at NC State. Those friendships are my favorite memories from NC State because they have become life-long friendships. We are still making memories together.