Team
Meet the rowers, shore crew, and friends and family of Row4ALS
TEAM CAPTAIN • 2023 ROWER • 2018 ROWER
Tim Ryan
Sports Bar Owner, Salt Lake City, UT (he/him)
What do owning a chain of sports bars and the Atlantic Challenge have in common? Well, for one thing, they both end in Talisker Whisky. Or perhaps they start there. Or both. Having completed the 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, Tim and the team are reuniting to take on the Pacific Challenge in June of 2023!
When not doing “rowing stuff”, Tim has been busy over the last 13 years building Bout Time Pub & Grub, a small chain of sports bars with locations in Utah and Colorado. Tim and his business partner started in 2009 with a single, tiny pub that has today grown to 17 locations with a team of over 450 employees and partners serving thousands of guests every day.
While away from work, Tim is active with his local gym, 212 fitness, where he enjoys insane workouts and the opportunity to participate in many athletic and social endeavors. Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, Envis Race and others are all under his belt. But the most rewarding events are Push to the Finish, Hunstman Cancer 5k and National Veterans Wheelchair Games that assist others in completing their own race.
Tim is supported in this great adventure by his amazing wife of 29 years, Crista and their 24-year-old twins Mallory and Abel. It takes more than a village to row an ocean and the support of family, friends and business partners is key to completing the mission.
“WHAT BEGAN AS A PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO COMPLETE THE TALISKER WHISKY ATLANTIC CHALLENGE HAS GROWN TO AN EPIC ENDEAVOR BY A GROUP OF FRIENDS TO FIND A CURE FOR ALS IN A MOST UNCONVENTIONAL MANNER.”
CHIEF INSPIRATION OFFICER • 2018 ROWER
Alan Alderman
CIO Row4ALS & ALS Warrior, Logan, UT (he/him)
Alan is a Utah native. Born in Salt Lake City, he grew up in the Northern Utah town of Logan. He was active growing up and lettered in Football, Wrestling, and Track in high school. He attended Utah State University graduating with a B.A. in Business with an emphasis in Finance. After graduation Alan moved to Orange County, California and pursued a career in Banking and Consumer Finance. In 2000 he returned to Utah to raise his young family. One year after returning to Utah he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. After his diagnosis he determined that ALS might take his life, but it would not destroy it! For the past 21 years he has been fighting against ALS. He has been active in fundraising, advocacy, and raising awareness for ALS.
After completing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 2018, he was determined to complete the Pacific Challenge in 2023. Sadly, the relentless progression of ALS has made that not feasible. He continues as the Chief Inspiration Officer for the Row4ALS Foundation and will be onboard with the team in spirit. In 2020, Alan married Andrea Davis. Together they live a busy and full life. A husband, father, and grandfather, Alan’s joy comes from his wife, three children, Breanna, Justin, Jessica, his granddaughters, Kayleigh, Evelyn, and Emerson, his parents and sisters, and close friends. Alan tries to live by four F’s; Faith, Family, Friends, and Finding a cure for ALS.
“I ROW TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ALS RESEARCH AND TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ALS! I ROW FOR ALL OF MY FELLOW PERSONS WITH ALS WHO HAVE BRAVELY FACED THIS DISEASE! I ROW FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR JOURNEY WITH ALS! I ROW FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF THEIR ABILITY TO WALK, TALK, EAT, OR MOVE AT ALL! I ROW BECAUSE I CAN! I MAY BE DISABLED, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN I AM UNABLE!“
2023 ROWER • 2018 ROWER
Dale Smith
Veterinarian, Salt Lake City, UT (he/him)
I was born and raised in Southern California but moved to Utah to ski bum in 1975. When the snow melted I enrolled at the University of Utah for my undergraduate studies and then onto Colorado State University for veterinary school. I have had a veterinary orthopedic surgery practice in Salt Lake City since 1991. I stay fit by running and enjoying the many adventures that Utah has to offer. I met Tim Ryan 5 years ago at our gym, 212 Fitness. I was approached by Tim at a party with the question “If you could have the adventure of a lifetime but needed to take 3 months off work, would you do it?” Without pause I said “yes!” After receiving an email the next day with links to the Talisker Whisky Challenge I must admit I had some reservations. However, after meeting Alan Alderman all hesitation vanished. Alan is a remarkable individual with boundless enthusiasm and an infectious smile. Oh yeah, he also happens to have ALS. I am proud and privileged to be part of the ROW4ALS crew.
2023 ROWER
Abel Ryan
Production Designer, Los Angeles, CA (they/them)
When Abel was fifteen, they left home to live in Nashville with a group of four other young men while in a boyband. At eighteen, Abel relocated again, this time to Los Angeles, studying film production and living, again, with four new young men. At twenty-four, Abel’s learning that old habits die hard, but this time the new roommates are about to get a lot closer…
Always a dream-chaser, Abel grew up imagining climactic battles on the high-seas, dancing with mermaids and swimming with krakens. When attempts to build the perfect card-board Nautilus didn’t quite pan out, they turned to movies, where Captain Nemo’s voyage usually did (*sort of*) and soon found the way out to sunny Los Angeles, CA where they work in the Art Department, constructing sets for film and television. Credits include ‘Big Time’ by Angel Olsen, Apple TV’s ‘The Morning Show’, work for Jubilee Media, Netflix, and Paramount, to name a few.
Film production bears many similarities to boat work: long hours, tight communication within the crew, and an aggressive pursuit of the goal..and as any Art Director or Sailor will tell you – none of it without focus and a strong attitude. Both of which Abel is eager to put to the test.
2018 ROWER
Brian Armstrong
Realtor, Salt Lake City, UT (he/him)
Brian Armstrong has been an adventure seeking entrepreneur since a young age. Brian grew up in Taylorsville, Utah where he played football for 10 years. While in his last year of high school at just 17, he started his first landscaping company that he ran for 9 years. Brian has always had a competitive attitude and has a desire to push himself both mentally and physically.
Being a member of the 2018 ROW4ALS team, Brian is returning to conquer the Pacific and challenge himself once again with Tim, Dale and Abel. Brian became a key part of the rowing team in 2018 after just having 5 months to prepare, train and get his business affairs in order.
“We all knew that the row would be life changing, little did I know I would come back from the row and change careers completely and then go on to start 2 additional companies”
Brian first heard about the race from Tim Ryan at a meeting that he was attending with a Bout Time Pub & Grub. Brian remembers Tim saying “I am going to row across the Atlantic Ocean with Alan and some guys from my gym.” Brian thought that these guys were completely nuts to take on such an adventure. As time went on he became more and more intrigued by the idea of pushing his own body and mind to the limits as this race would be doing to the members of this team.
Brian traveled with the Row4ALS team to a few of the training rows in Florida and at Bear Lake. In late June there became an opportunity for him to join the team just 5 months from the start of the race and he decided to join in on the adventure of a lifetime.
“I HAVE KNOWN ALAN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS THROUGH HIS ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT. I HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO ALAN FOR HIS AMAZING OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO RAISING AWARENESS FOR ALS. I AM HONORED THAT I AM ABLE TO JOIN THIS TEAM AND ROW WITH THESE SELFLESS INDIVIDUALS IN A CAUSE THAT WE HOPE WILL IMPACT THE WORLD.”
Brian is supported in this grand adventure by his 16 year old son Hunter and a network of friends and family.
2018 ROWER
Teddy Waldo
Business Owner, St. John, USVI (he/him)
William “Teddy” Waldo has been sailing the waters of the BVI’s since the early 1990s when he was three. He became a first mate at age 11 and completed his keel boat training at 16. He graduated High School as Valedictorian at 17 and attended both Middlebury College and Northern Arizona University but his passion for both the sea and the friendly culture and people of the British Virgin Islands brought him back to the Islands. He began his captaining career in early 2012 when he began work for a prominent BVI based charter company . He was able to exponentially expand both his sailing experience and practical knowledge of the Voyage boats by working in many different capacities for the company for over four years. When not on charter, Teddy worked with the maintenance team as well as did briefings for clients chartering vessels as bareboat captains. He currently has a 200 ton commercial license, is a PADI certified Advanced Open Water Diver and has completed his Marine Safety STCW 10 in addition to his training in First Aid and Security.
While on charter, Teddy’s easy going nature, patience and sense of balancing both safety, and fun allow guests to fully enjoy their vacation. His mastery of the boat systems makes guests feel at ease and his expert knowledge of the islands and their waters adds something special to each voyage. The eldest of five, Ted is excellent with children and enjoys opening their eyes to the wonders of the ocean. Whether guests enjoy lounging in a secluded bay, snorkeling a beautiful coral reef or a shipwreck, sailing fast on a beam reach, lazily traveling downwind or finding the best place to enjoy a cocktail, Teddy knows just how to help guests realize their ideal vacation.
THE WIZARD
Steve Sawaya
The Wizard, Salt Lake City, UT (he/him)
Steve started training with the Row4ALS team in 2018 and continues to be their jack of all trades on the shore crew. He met Tim and Dale at 212 Fitness and once Tim and Alan asked him to help with the technical aspects of the row he became fast friends with the entire Row4ALS team.
His jobs range from getting the Lowes buckets (IFKYK), upgrading the batteries from Lead Acid to Lithium Ion (LiFePO4 to be specific), wiring up the electrical, and pulling the boat. He’s spent some interesting nights on the road with the team, including some memorable nights in Walmart parking lots and stops at Waffle House.
He is the family liaison when the team is out to sea. Most rowers choose not to have any contact back home, and instead work through a liaison. The rowers can call Steve from their sat phone when they need technical or weather help. He also helps translate the updates we get from the teams on the row to their families. Things like why they rowed so far south when they left the Canary Islands.
DESIGN, MEDIA & WEB
Amber Sawaya
UX Designer, Salt Lake City, UT (she/her)
Amber met the group at Row4ALS like many people people did—through the gym, 212 Fitness. She joined the rowers as shore crew for the 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, doing on site social media and interacting with the team and family back at home. After traveling to La Gomera for the 2018 race start, Amber brought Alan’s wheelchair back to the U.S.A., then handed it off to Crista Ryan to meet him in Antigua.
The weeks spent in the Canary Islands with the Row4ALS crew in 2018 will stand out as some of the most fun she’s had with a group of friends. She enjoys supporting the team and telling them to line up, put on clean shirts, and take a few nice photos for the sponsors. She is looking forward to being involved with the race start and finish for the 2023 Pacific Challenge.
When she’s not training with the rowers or scurrying behind Alan’s wheelchair with a camera she does user experience design at anchor & alpine.
Special thank you to Kira Griffin for the Row4ALS logo.
Photo credit Amanda Nelson
Thank You!
We couldn’t do this without the moral and in-kind support of the following people and companies.
Crista Ryan
Mallory Ryan
Bill & Susan Ryan
The Lovell Family
Jan Ryan
Julie Ryan
Bout Time Pub & Grub Family
212 Fitness Community
Sweet Billie May & Sweet Marie May
Lynn Keough
Anna Smith
Sean Smith
…and the entire veterinary community
Poppy and Gram
Bill and Jan Staker
…and a community of friends Jules, Joseph, Nicole, Norrie, Pierson, Sami, and Sari, amongst many others
2023 Sponsors
