2023 40 Under 40 Spotlight: Ryan DeBoef, 2015

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Then: Chief of staff, Missouri State University
Now: Partner, Hahn DeBoef LLC

Ryan DeBoef may have started a new role, but he’s kept his former employer close. As a partner at a government relations firm doing business as Hahn | DeBoef Government Relations, MSU is a client, along with the city of Marshfield and Codefi. His role lobbies for the interests of clients to the state legislature.

“The ability to represent clients from the southwest part of the state and have an impact on my home and on our home is really important to me,” DeBoef, 42, says.

The change came nearly a decade after serving as chief of staff to MSU President Clif Smart. There, he points to top accomplishments as establishing a citywide polling station at the campus welcome center, securing $100 million to reimagine the university’s math and science facilities and increasing MSU’s operating appropriations from the state by $10 million.

Since he was a 40 Under 40 honoree, he also married his wife, Juli, and with that gained two bonus kids to add to his family of two sons.

Best piece of advice to young professionals?
Swing for the fences. Go all in.