Ryan Freeman Helping Grow the Family Business
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Ryan Freeman’s decision to join the family business a few years ago was not an easy one. When his brother, Trent, founder and CEO of Pure&Clean, came to him in 2015 with a desire to start a company to help athletes with skin infections, he wanted to hear more. After learning about the market opportunity and the lack of safe and effective alternatives, Ryan, his brother Trent, their parents Kent and Laura, along with Trent’s father-in-law, Dr. John Buckner, started Pure&Clean LLC.
Pure&Clean LLC had a vision to impact sports, and in November 2015 the first products were launched under the name Sports Armor. After a few short months, Sports Armor came to a halt as a large sports brand sought the brand/naming rights for themselves. Although the setback hurt market penetration into sports, a blessing in disguise revealed itself as Pure&Clean unexpectedly found a demand for medical-grade wound care products.
Pure&Clean First Aid Solution and Wound Cleanser launched in 2016 and found early success in long-term care nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, hospice and home healthcare companies. By the end of 2016, powerful medical distributors McKesson and Medline had reached out to Pure&Clean to contract distribution arrangements and make Pure&Clean available to their clients. Today, Pure&Clean products are used in a number of hospitals, clinics, and health care organizations across the U.S. Pure&Clean products are also available over the counter at Walgreens in parts of the country.
After months of searching and contemplating, a new sports brand was born – Pure&Clean Sports. Pure&Clean Sports launched December 2016, but it needed someone to drive the direction and energy a new brand requires. Trent was buried with the new medical brand that organically came about, and someone else had to step in. Following some timely changes at work, Ryan left his full-time job in January 2017 to grow the new brand.
“After considering the options, creating a plan, and a lot of prayer, my wife and I agreed to go all in with Pure&Clean,” said the 33-year-old Freeman, who serves as . “We launched our sports brand Pure&Clean Sports in 2017 and our first year showed great strides of success. Our initial market has been wrestling, and through our amazing products we've earn the confidence of wrestling's best Olympians, national championship teams, and world champions.”
Freeman earned bachelor’s degrees in management and marketing (2007) and an MBA (2009) from Oklahoma State University. He recently shared a little bit about Pure&Clean Sports and how his Spears School of Business education helped prepare him to grow the company.
What is Pure&Clean?
Freeman: Pure&Clean uses the latest technological advancements to reduce infection control issues using products that are uniquely powerful and safe. Historically, green products have been nice to the environment, but not necessarily effective at killing germs. At the other end of the spectrum, products that are tough on germs have harsh chemicals that are harsh to the environment and the people who use them. Pure&Clean is different, not only are we environmentally conscious, but our products are also family friendly and safe to use every day wherever you live, work and play.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Freeman: Most people want to help people and feel they make difference. In my previous roles in technology, I had the opportunity to help a lot of businesses, schools, and cities improve and grow. But Pure&Clean is so much more than just technology. Our medical products change lives. People on hospice are seeing their wounds heal, home health patients with chronic bedsores are getting well, and veterans with diabetic ulcers are avoiding amputation. We’re making a big difference; positively impacting someone’s health is fulfilling.
I really enjoy focusing on Pure&Clean Sports. It’s such a joy to be around enthusiastic athletes competing at the highest levels. Athletes work so hard to reach their highest potential, and it’s a shame when a skin infection takes that away. Every year someone’s athletic career is threatened because of a staph or MRSA infection. It’s exciting to help reduce that threat.
Why did you choose to major in management and marketing at OSU?
Freeman: I enjoyed a number of classes at OSU that were not management or marketing courses. I've always enjoyed economics, finance, and I'm sure I'd get a lot more out of business law if I went back to take a course now. I hate to admit it, but the same may be true for accounting – it’s unlikely, but who knows.
Management and marketing both fit my interests and I found the course work rather intuitive. I did not enjoy all the subject matter, but the material I found applicable to the business world fascinated me. I may be jumping ahead, but I find there is no substitute for combining education with experience. My most enjoyable coursework came in grad school when I applied real-life examples from my internship to my coursework. Yes, I double-dipped and got paid by my boss for doing projects that also completed my coursework. Here’s an example I recall: I had to conduct a market research project for class. At the time I had an internship for a real estate developer that wanted to consider new markets for senior living communities. I analyzed potential cities to determine the most suitable city for a senior living development and also had an exciting, relevant market research project for class.
What prompted you to continue your education and earn your MBA?
Freeman: Initially, I did not want to spend any more time in school. I was ready to get a job and make money. However, I had one year of NCAA eligibility left in wrestling and I didn't want to leave with that still on the table. After conversations with professors, mentors and my parents, I decided that I wanted to differentiate myself from others in the job market. An MBA separates me from all the other job candidates with an undergraduate degree.
I have found this helpful throughout my career as I've pursued opportunities. However, once the coursework began, I found my MBA to be more than just a resume builder. I found the coursework to be relevant and intriguing, far more enjoyable than my undergraduate studies. As I shared with Dr. [Ken] Eastman, my time in the MBA program completely changed my view on higher-education. After completing my undergrad, I held a mixed view of my college education. Although some classes were enjoyable, a fair number were not. My classes in graduate school were all enjoyable, applicable and exciting!
What specific memories do you value most from your time at OSU?
Freeman: Too many to recount, but I’d say certain professors stuck out to me more than others. Although I remember many of them, there were a handful that I really enjoyed. Perhaps they stand out due to their skill as a teacher, or maybe because I found the coursework enjoyable – likely it’s a combination of both. Dr. [Robert] Dooley and the senior strategy class had to be one of my favorites. Dr. [James] Pappas had exciting content and a good sense of humor, especially when it came to dogging the marketing folks statement “marketing is everywhere and everything.” Dr. [Karen] Flaherty, who I'm sure found Dr. Pappas' comments enlightening, taught in way that anyone, even I, could easily comprehend. There are others, but these three probably had the greatest impact and I felt they were more than professors, they were mentors and friends.
Will you please share with us some achievements you are most proud of since graduating from OSU.
Freeman: Although I’ve had a great career (so far), I’m most proud of the time I find to help others and contribute to something more than myself. As a wrestler, no matter where I’ve lived – Atlanta, Des Moines and Kansas City – I always get involved and help out a local program. I’ve also enjoyed being involved in the community:
- Olathe Planning Commission
- West Des Moines Young Professionals
- Leadership Olathe - Chamber of Commerce
- Citizens for Excellence in Olathe Schools
- AT&T OxyGEN Committee
What advice would you give to current Spears Business students?
Freeman: Get an internship. I worked for a real estate developer where I had to wear many hats, but it gave me the perspective to see where my education was taking me. There’s nothing better than mixing education with experience.
What else do we need to know about Ryan Freeman?
Freeman: I live in Olathe, Kansas with my wife of 8 years, Madison; 6-month-old son, Pax Owen Freeman, and our German Shorthaired Pointer, Atlas.
(To learn more, visit the Pure&Clean Sports website.)