Ryan DeMay
Founder of Field Source
2025 Class of Pioneers in the Field

In his favorite role to date, Ryan DeMay steps foot onto a different movie set every day. There’s always a new cast of characters, a different threat or challenge to conquer, but he often runs off the same script. Ryan DeMay, flawlessly delivers his lines with the goal of bringing safety and playability to community-level sports fields. Ryan said, “I’m truly in my element when the on-air light is on, we’ve got one take, no edits, let’s go." 

Ryan DeMay is the Founder and Principal of Field Source, a team of sports field construction and management consultants in the turfgrass industry. DeMay founded Field Source in 2018 with the mission of making playing surfaces safe, with a focus on quality and playability for every athlete. Ryan’s job begins long before equipment shows up on set, he’s in the business of setting expectations and helping clients envision what’s possible. At the start of each project, Ryan hopes to establish a partnership that can help make dreams a reality.

DeMay started practicing his craft at a young age, on a golf course. What started as a $20/day gig doing grunt work, evolved into a 16 year stint in the golf industry. During that time Ryan acquired his Turfgrass Management degree from OSU ATI, followed up by a Bachelors in Turfgrass Science and Agribusiness from the Ohio State University. When he was ready to bring his talents to the sports turf side of the industry, he sought out a position with the City of Columbus. His former boss and long-time mentor, Jack Castle, recalled his first time meeting Ryan and the strong impression he made. 

Jack said, “Ryan was our last interview for a grounds crew lead position, and honestly we had already decided on another candidate but out of commitment, kept the interview. Ryan came in and changed our minds with his professionalism, his adaptability and his desire for success. He became an immediate yes in my mind. Over the next eight years, we built Berliner Sports Park to be a nationally recognized venue and the most utilized park in the State of Ohio. But, Ryan also became a vital resource to our community, he was constantly fielding questions and calls. If you know Ryan, you know how likable he is, he doesn’t’ know a stranger. From the very beginning, he was always helping others succeed. And he recognized a void in our industry and he filled it, the rapid growth of his business shows what demand there was but also speaks to the type of person Ryan is. He constantly goes above and beyond for his friends, his customers and this community.” 

After the City of Columbus, like all our favorite hero's journeys, Ryan DeMay crossed the threshold, or point of no return, in 2018 when he went on his own to develop Field Source. As a self-proclaimed “problem-solving junkie”, Ryan says his business has spiraled in control since its conception. With Field Source, Ryan gets to solve a variety of problems for his customers, challenge himself daily, and ask better questions to bring safety and playability to the forefront of community-level sports fields. When developing his team and their footprint, Ryan said, “I’ve been lucky to find the exact right person I needed at the right time on this journey. People who have pushed me and our crew to be better. Field Source is a team of 10 now and we strive to find partnerships that make us better as a crew.” 

"Ryan has always been focused on the people behind the problem. He loves to make connections through storytelling and the ultimate goal. What he does is very complex, but he brings clarity and community to the project. He thrives in a space where he can envision the goal and can bring people along for the ride, and in the end, make it a reality."

Jack Castle, City of Columbus

Zach Howard, Superintendent at Mount Gilead School District, was one of the first partners to push Ryan and his crew to meet higher expectations and challenge themselves as professionals. Zach said Ryan, his team, and their fields made a lasting impression on him and his son after his son’s team played on one of Ryan’s natural grass fields. “Ryan has made our athletic fields, and many others he has worked on, the best in the business. He has done this through his knowledge of athletic surfaces, empowering others by offering ongoing education to the site-based maintenance team to care and maintain them and he is always learning through his own professional development what is possible and what is not with athletic fields.  We've seen this ourselves with his ability to provide a natural grass bermuda field that I argue is the best football field to play on in the entire State of Ohio. I know people think I'm joking when I say that or believe I'm just exaggerating because I'm the Superintendent of Mount Gilead. However, I ask anybody that disagrees to show me a better playing surface than what our Mount Gilead Indians play on at home events?!”

"Ryan has experience, knowledge, and wisdom. He has no ego. He's as genuine as the day is long. I know it's rare. But, Ryan is not in the business to make money. He is in the business to provide excellent customer service. I believe Ryan is happiest when he knows his customers are happy."

Zach Howard, Superintendent at Mount Gilead School District

Ryan hopes that what resonates with people when they think about Field Source and the team he’s built, is the culture and mission that guides them. Ryan said he hopes people remember, “From start to finish, it might not have been perfect but we learned every step of the way, and tried to get better each time. We embraced the greatest gift that any groundskeeper has been given, that in the face of a long list of to dos, challenges or barriers, we kept going, every time.”

When asked where that drive or guiding principles came from, Ryan reflected on his upbringing and gave credit to his parents who instilled in him and his brothers, “that whatever you do, do it well, give it all you got”. Ryan said he hopes his own kids pick up on this philosophy and recognize that when things get difficult, you dig deep, you finish the job. Ryan said, “I really believe in using your talents to make as big of an impact as you can. Impact and significance are two things that continue to drive me. I have a responsibility to be a great father and husband but also to go hard in the paint with five fouls to give, every single day. I had an old boss tell me that where your focus goes, your energy follows. Wherever my focus is, I give it my all”. 

Again, that focus for Ryan and his Field Source crew is community-level sports fields. Ryan believes that their dedicated work has the opportunity to impact countless athletes and families, and that they’re one of the most deserving groups. Whether someone is playing a sport for wellness, community or aspirations of continuing on, Ryan and his crew have the chance to help set the stage for their moment in the lights.

Ryan DeMay is using his talents to help create some for our favorite blockbuster hits. He loves joining a new cast and helping them create their masterpiece and he never relents in the face of a challenge. Field Source meets their customers needs by providing clarity and vision. When it’s time to perform, and the on-air sign is red, he locks in and excels.

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