Madison, WI -- January 8, 2019. Wall Family Enterprise (WFE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Ryan as chief executive officer. He began leading the organization's portfolio of global businesses serving schools and libraries on December 10, 2018.

"At a time when education is rapidly evolving and libraries and schools must meet the needs of their communities in new ways, Wall Family Enterprise sought a visionary leader who could help us innovate, inspire and drive growth," said Jim James, WFE board chairman. "We are thrilled to have Sean on board. He comes from a family of educators and has spent the last 20 years in businesses that serve the education market. He embodies the organization's values of teamwork and collaboration and wholeheartedly embraces our mission to promote learning and enrichment at all stages of life."

An accomplished education technology executive, Ryan ran a large sales and service organization at McGraw-Hill Education during its strategic transformation from print to digital. Most recently he led Fuel Education, a division of K–12 Inc., as senior vice president and general manager. There he brought blended and online learning solutions to school districts across the country. Ryan is passionate about the digital transformation in education as well as the modernization of learning spaces and the physical tools that support teaching and help engage students and library patrons.

"More than just a portfolio of brands, Wall Family Enterprise is aligned around a unique set of unifying ideas," Ryan said. "It includes both the tangible and the intangible. Whether it's software for early learners, interiors to create effective learning environments or the preservation and display of history's artifacts, across all of our businesses we serve those who convey what we know and what we care about to future generations."

Ryan is a former military intelligence officer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Soviet Studies from the United States Air Force Academy. He received a master's degree in international relations from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Science degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Wall Family Enterprise, Inc. was founded in 1905 and is based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company's brands include Demco, Hatch, Gaylord Archival, Demco Europe, Maudesport and Timstar.