Graphic Communications Firm
Opens in Rochester Village
By Martha Slater

A new business has opened on the north end of Rochester village. Located in the little cottage at the foot of Robinson Avenue, "Cynthia Ryan Graphic Communication" opened its doors several weeks ago, offering print, web, and media design services.

Prior to going out on her own, Cynthia Ryan, known to many as "Cyndi," worked for Inner Traditions International for seven years. During that time, she worked as the assistant art director and web intra-net development manager, eventually becoming the production manager in charge of the interior design of each book.

Due to her father’s career in the military, Ryan grew up all over the world.

"I went to more schools than there are grades," she jokes, "but moving around so much gave me good people skills."

She came to Rochester 12 years ago with her two daughters, Jeanelle, now 17, and Marissa, 14, and while her girls were small, earned a degree in visual media from Castleton State College. After living in Sharon for the past couple of years, she will soon move back to a home she has built on Rochester’s West Hill, next to the home of her brother, Greg, and his family.

Ryan’s new business will offer design work on brochures, annual reports, postcards, business cards, promotional materials, etc. She is currently doing a magazine layout and the designs for four illustrated books. She also specializes in web sites and is working with a web designer in Maine on web sites for a couple of publishers, and consulting on data structuring and XML (a programming language that allows transfer of data between different systems).

For Ryan, whose grandparents were artists, a career as a graphic designer has been a long-time goal. Now that she’s taken the leap of faith and opened a business of her own, she’s excited about what the future may hold.

"One of the reasons I did this was because my mentor from Castleton, Laurie Musick Wright of LMW Design in Rutland, said she wanted to work with me," Ryan explains. "I’m doing some contracting work with her right now, and I’m open to clients who need any kind of print design work, web site design, etc."

Since she is currently a one-woman operation, her office hours are by appointment ("If the flag is out, I’m here"), but she hopes the business will soon grow enough so that she can hire an assistant. Although she has clients from as far away as California, Ryan notes she is offering a 10% discount to Rochester area residents. Her business phone number is 767-9100.

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