Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan 

Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan was first elected to the City Council in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. She represents the residents of Ward Five, which includes the neighborhoods of Elmhurst, Mt. Pleasant, and Manton. 

Councilwoman Ryan’s legislative focus areas include promoting fiscal responsibility, economic development, tax reform, and environmental stewardship. In addition, she addresses quality of life issues for residents through initiatives centered on community policing, public education, parks, recreation, traffic control, and safe streets programs, and community engagement.

 Councilwoman Ryan introduced and led the successful passage of the landmark Providence Plastic Bag Reduction Act, which was approved by the City Council on Earth Day 2019. She led the Council initiative to modernize and reform the City’s Board of Licenses, resulting in the General Assembly passing the recommended licensing laws in 2017. Councilwoman Ryan grew up in the neighborhoods she represents and is a strong advocate for neighborhood and community investment. Recognizing the significance of the neighborhood library to young people and families, she actively supports the Mt. Pleasant Community Library as well as the entire library system. She established the Armand E. Batastini, Jr. Recreation Center to provide high-quality, safe afterschool programming for area youth. She worked to revitalize and improve the Mt. Pleasant High School baseball field, as well as supported the development of the school’s music program. She has brought improvements to the many parks throughout Ward Five, including Viscilosi Park, the Pleasant Valley Parkway, and Mount Pleasant Park. Additionally, Councilwoman Ryan is responsible for the complete rehabilitation and renovation of the historic Conley Stadium on Mount Pleasant Avenue, transforming it into a premier multi-use athletic facility.

Councilwoman Ryan brings over 30 years of experience in the Rhode Island financial industry and an MBA to her Council role. Currently, she is Vice President, Residential Mortgage-Business Administration, and Planning Manager at Customers Bank. She previously served in senior management roles in program compliance, corporate communication, and asset product management at Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, Old Stone Bank, and Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank. Her programs, designed to help working families buy and keep safe, affordable homes and her initiatives promoting management innovation, have won national industry best practice awards.

Councilwoman Ryan formerly served as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Finance, and as the Chairwoman of the City of Providence Housing Crisis Task Force. She was also previously a member of the Rules Committee and the Special Committee on Municipal Operations and Oversight, and is one of two Council-elected members of the Water Supply Board. She previously served as Chair of the Committee on Ordinances, and Chair of the Special Committee on Municipal Operations and Oversight. She was elected by Council members to serve as Majority Leader in 2019 and Majority Whip in 2016.

Councilwoman Ryan and her husband, Attorney Thomas J. Ryan, are active members of their community and are members of St. Pius V Church. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Attorney Brendan F. Ryan and Megan F. Ryan, MBA, TCRG.