Ryan AmatoRyan Amato was a geoscience graduate student at Florida Atlantic University, focusing on climate resilience in Florida. Ryan contributed as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Florida Center for Environmental Studies in Davie. He became keenly aware of long-term environmental challenges through independent research and was inspired to make a career change. He has over eight years of experience in marketing and communications, most recently with AutoNation, Inc. Ryan strives to help bridge the gap between science and business by leveraging knowledge to make better long-term strategic decisions across all sectors of society.
He holds a B.B.A. with concentrations in management and marketing from Florida Atlantic University where he completed the University Scholar’s Program. A South Florida native, Ryan is passionate about helping local communities adapt to the challenges to come and influencing policy by leading with science.
Having grown up in the area, I completed my undergraduate degree at FAU back in 2009. After around seven years in the corporate world, a deep interest in and concern for climate change brought me back to FAU and CES.
B.B.A. Business Management & Marketing 2009 / M.S. Geoscience 2021
In a never ending quest for knowledge of universe and self, I became very interested in Astronomy around 2013 and started reading in my free time. This led me down several scientific paths of interest, culminating in an obsession with climate change issues around 2017. I decided that I had to make a shift in career path to soothe the soul and collaborate with like-minded people.
I worked on the Florida Climate Resilience survey and NAS Gulf research project on Flood Risk Perceptions.
I focused on behavioral economics and human rationality as it relates to flood risk perceptions and mitigation behaviors in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. Specifically, we measured how different emotions, and scientific information may or may not impact these behaviors for residents.
I really enjoyed connecting with like-minded people who shared my concern for the environment and climate change issues. Coming from a business background, I often felt like an outcast voicing my concerns, but CES welcomed me with open arms and enabled me to grow both as a human and professional.
Currently, I’m an EV Marketing Manager at AutoNation, Inc. focusing on helping franchise stores promote and sell a variety of vehicles, but most importantly, guiding teammates through the EV transition as the world attempts to adapt to climate change. I’m also pursuing an MBA with a focus in Business Sustainability Strategy from Penn State University.
Balance both the heart and the mind. Keep one foot in the practicality bucket and one in the emotional bucket. Do your best to implement change while limiting frustration or burn out. Climate change is a wicked problem that no one person can solve alone. Never stop learning and skew towards solutions over dwelling on problems.
I enjoy exercising, playing or watching sports, hiking in The Rocky Mountains with my fiancé, reading outside with the sun, observing nature, and watching climate change podcasts on YouTube.
