If Not Me, Then Who? If you have heard this, it's most likely a result of Ryan Manion, through her work at the Travis Manion Foundation. Ryan's family lost her brother, 1stLt Travis Manion, USMC, in Iraq in 2007, and it changed the course of her life forever. The family turned their pain and loss into fuel to support others, and the Travis Manion Foundation was born. The daughter of a retired Marine, a wife, and a mom to three, she is no stranger to resiliency and how to struggle well in life. Now the president of one of the nation’s leading veteran service organizations – the Travis Manion Foundation – Ryan works to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to inspire future generations to change.

We asked Ryan…

Can you tell our readers what type of work you do at the Travis Manion Foundation?

A lot of veterans struggle to find purpose outside of their military uniform. That's a big focus of the work we do. We have 250,000 members across the country and close to 50% of those people are civilians. For us, it's bridging that divide that separates the less than 1% of those who serve to the 99% who don't, while making sure they understand the service and sacrifice our service members make.

What is one of the biggest things that drives you?

We all have an obligation to serve our greater communities and it may not be in a military uniform. We do a disservice to this country if we don't feel that sense of obligation to give back and serve. There are so many different ways to do that and it's just identifying what works for you.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I'm outside of my house traveling half the year and I love it because I love being able to talk to other people and have the opportunity to speak to large-scale audiences on a regular basis. But I love nothing more than being at home and being able to go to my kids' practice or soccer games. I have a 17-year-old daughter a 14-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.

Is there anything that you do as a daily ritual or even a weekly ritual that helps keep you centered and focused?

Working out is really important to me, more for the mental benefits than the physical benefits. I don't get the opportunity to work out every day, but when I do I notice a significant difference in my day so it's something I try to prioritize. That's probably the most important thing that I do and I try to make sure I'm making smart choices on the road about what I eat. Also, sleep is a big priority for me.

What are things you don't spend time on?

I don't spend time on things that are out of my control.

The best piece of advice that a mentor gave to you …could be anyone in your life or on any subject.

The best piece of advice I got from a mentor is to surround yourself with people who push you to be the best version of yourself.

What's next for you?

At the Travis Manion Foundation, we have 85 employees across the country in 8 regional offices. I plan to continue the work of the foundation. I also have a podcast. I love being able to talk to guests about their different paths. I talk a lot about struggling well, and what that means, and how life does not follow a linear path. To have the opportunity to talk about how we and, even more importantly, we as women, are able to do that, is something that's special to me and I hope to be able to do more of it.

Photography by Alison Dunlap

Bucks Happening collaborated with our partners at Fox & Holly to dress our 2023 Happening Women Honorees. Fashion was custom-selected based on each woman's personality. Check out Fox & Holly, part of the locally-owned LSL Brands company, owned and led by Bucks County entrepreneur Karen Thompson.

Ryan Manion is wearing a vegan leather dress by Nic+Zoe.

Shop a curated collection of top fashion at Fox & Holly. Peddler's Village Shop, 162, Lahaska, PA 18931