Ryan Foster | Peoria, Illinois
Owner, Hick’ry Catering Company
Ryan Foster has a lot of job titles: entrepreneur, owner, chef, founder, visionary, leader. Patti Bechtel of Budded Mattah celebrates that all Foster’s gifts are “aimed at helping others in fundamental and spiritual ways. He’s a trained chef, pastor and master gardener and utilizes all of those skills to enhance the lives of others.”
At the age of 14, Foster had a vision “to expand my family catering business to be a national brand.” Now as the owner of Hick’ry Catering Company and Hick’ry Stick mobile food, Foster gets to “flex his chef skills,” providing award winning food to foreign dignitaries, Grammy winning artists, Fortune 500 companies and over 100 weddings.
Foster is also the founder of the nonprofit organization, Pelia Academy, Inc., which includes Budded Mattah Urban Agriculture and Agape School of Supernatural Ministry. Budded Mattah is an urban agriculture initiative currently managing two acres of urban farm on the south side of Peoria. Its goal is to alleviate all forms of poverty through urban agriculture by providing education and resources for residents of the south side of Peoria to grow their own food and generate income. Foster is passionate about “compassion that strives to see people self-sufficient and not trapped in a cycle of dependence.”
A City of Compassion:
“We are a city known as ‘the city where no one goes hungry.’ We have so many services for those in need, and that shows the heart of our people. If you have a good plan that uplifts people and doesn’t make them dependent, people will come out of the woodwork to help.”
Agape School provides another form of growth, educating individuals to center their identity in Jesus Christ and be the change they were made to be. This school builds people up to fulfill their dreams and bring joy to their circles of influence. Students are encouraged to love people in action and to be the best version of themselves.
Foster’s own education journey includes Illinois Central College where he earned two associates degrees, Southern Illinois University Carbondale for a BS in Business Marketing and an MBA, and Lincoln Christian University for a MA in Bible and Theology.
“I am 68 years old and have met thousands of people in those 68 years,” writes Bechtel of Foster. “I can very honestly and sincerely say that none have been as fascinating, driven and fruitful as I have found this young man to be.”
While Ryan’s initiatives have deeply impacted many lives, he is most proud of the job titles of husband and father. “They are my greatest joys of my life,” says Foster of his wife Mandy, and their four (soon to be five) children.
Words of Wisdom:
“A great leader…doesn’t see people as a means to their own greatness…A great leader sees the gold in the people they lead and rushes with enthusiasm to bring it to the surface.”
