Ryan Freeman: The Intersection of Modern Marketing and Community Mentorship
Ryan Kenneth Freeman is a Canadian marketing professional and community coach whose career reflects a rare balance of entrepreneurship, mentorship, and long-term service. Over the years, he has built a reputation in two very different but deeply connected fields. In business, he is known for helping small companies, especially florists and nonprofits, grow through smart digital marketing. In the community, he is known for mentoring young athletes through more than two decades of dedicated youth baseball coaching. His work across these areas shows how one individual, when committed to practical solutions and steady leadership, can make a lasting difference without chasing headlines or seeking attention.
Born on January 16, 1977, in Toronto, Ontario, Ryan Freeman grew up surrounded by family values and community service. His early education took place at Martingrove Collegiate Institute, followed by Silverthorn Collegiate Institute. He later enrolled in Sheridan College in Brampton in 1996, where he studied Business Administration with a focus on accounting. Although he chose to leave college after one year, it was not a step back. Instead, it marked the beginning of a fast-moving career in marketing and technology. At a time when digital tools were still unfamiliar to many small businesses, Freeman was already helping them understand how the internet could reshape customer service and sales.
While still in high school, Freeman began working in different roles as a sales representative. He also started offering technical support, building custom PCs, and later designing websites. Between 1994 and 2008, he worked independently, guiding small business owners through the early stages of online marketing. His approach was hands-on and focused. He made sure his clients understood what they were paying for, what their goals were, and how results would be measured. His guidance helped many local businesses in Toronto adapt to digital platforms at a time when such knowledge was not widely available.
His background in his family’s business played a major role in shaping his mindset. Freeman is a fifth-generation member of Martin’s, the Flower People, which was once the oldest family-owned florist in Toronto. While he did not design floral arrangements himself, he became deeply involved in the business’s marketing, operations, and technology. He was responsible for introducing new systems, supporting customer communication strategies, and helping the store transition into the online era. His experience at Martin’s gave him valuable insight into how small businesses survive, grow, and compete against larger players.
That knowledge later led Freeman to establish his own digital marketing agency called Strider, based in Toronto. He founded the company in the 1990s to serve independent businesses with affordable and effective digital solutions. Strider has supported a wide variety of clients across industries, but it is best known for helping independent retail florists and nonprofit organizations. Freeman’s work at Strider has always been about simplicity, results, and trust. His clients appreciate that he does not rely on complex jargon or unnecessary technical layers. He focuses on strategies that work and gives each client a clear view of what they need to do and how success is measured.
In addition to his work with local florists, Freeman has consulted for several high-profile companies in the floral and health industries. He has worked with Teleflora on point-of-sale solutions, supported FTD on marketing approaches, and contributed to the development of systems for McShan Abner Systems and Meditech in the area of laser therapy. His work in these fields has been respected not only for its technical accuracy but also for his ability to explain complex ideas in a way that teams can use in everyday practice.
His contributions to education in the floral industry are also widely acknowledged. Freeman has led training sessions and developed digital strategies for shop owners looking to modernize their operations. Many businesses that were struggling to adapt to changing market trends credit him with giving them the tools and the confidence to move forward. In 2008, he received the Bruce Clay International SEO Award for his achievements in digital strategy. In 2018, he was honored with special recognition from the Great Lakes Floral Association for his years of service to independent florists.
While Freeman’s name is known in the business world, his impact in youth sports is equally significant. For more than twenty years, he has served as a volunteer baseball coach in Toronto. He has coached teams across all age groups, including T-ball, 13U, 15U, and 18U levels. He is currently coaching 15U teams at Bloordale Baseball. Freeman was the first coach in Toronto to complete Driveline Hitting certification and later became the first in the city to receive Driveline certification in Youth Baseball Development. He is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and is certified through Baseball Ontario’s NCCP program. These accomplishments show his deep dedication to proper coaching standards, safety, and player development.
His coaching philosophy focuses on long-term growth. Freeman teaches his players that success in baseball is not just about winning games. It is about learning how to work through failure, build resilience, and improve over time. He creates a safe and supportive environment where young athletes can grow in both skill and confidence. His coaching sessions often include lessons that extend beyond the field, offering players tools that help them in school, relationships, and life decisions.
Freeman also has a long-standing commitment to community service through faith-based work. He was one of the founding members of Grace Fellowship Church of West Toronto, where he served as a deacon for over ten years. In that role, he helped with outreach, planning, and support for church members and new visitors. Through his agency Strider, he has also provided pro bono and discounted services to nonprofits and community organizations that would not otherwise have access to quality digital marketing. These actions reflect his belief that good business practice and community service are not separate goals but connected responsibilities.
Across all of his work, Ryan Freeman brings the same steady focus. Whether he is coaching a teenager to improve their swing or helping a florist reach more customers online, he shows patience, clarity, and integrity. He does not seek the spotlight, but the people and teams around him often achieve more because of his quiet guidance. His story shows that marketing and mentorship do not need to exist in different lanes. In his case, they meet at the same intersection, where smart strategy and human connection create real results.
