Spartan Profiles: Ryan Vartoogian

SPARTAN INTERNET

            When he was a sophomore at MSU, he founded a then-new service of Internet consulting. Since then, he has emerged as one of the young stars in the  business.  Ryan Vartoogian, ’01, president of Spartan Internet Consulting, Lansing, was recently named as one of 10 area top young professionals and is the recipient of the 2008 MSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award.  “A lot of good things are happening here in Lansing and it’s great to see the community recognizing young professionals,” says Vartoogian, a native of Livonia.

            His company has four locations, 35 employees, and will soon move into new Lansing headquarters.  His clients include some major international companies across the U.S. and in Japan.  “We’re very unique,” says Ryan.  “At the core, we’re a consulting company that helps firms leverage the Internet from a strategic point of view. Currently there’s a dramatic underutilization of Internet strategy to go after global markets.  We have huge emerging markets in China, India and Russia and most companies are not reaching them.”

            Despite his success, Ryan has stayed very connected to his alma mater and to the community. “I view myself as never having left MSU,” he says, noting he currently lives in Haslett.  “We get involved in a lot of collaborative things with MSU.  We recruit MSU students, we participate in student groups as mentors, and we speak to classes.”  Ryan is proud that his company’s new headquarters will feature an Information Technology Empowerment Center, which he calls “a learning laboratory” where students can strengthen their skills in math and technology.  “We’re collaborating with area schools and colleges, including MSU, to help bridge the technology divide,” he says.