Ryan Smolar, a Southern California native and perennial jokester who doesn’t take himself too seriously, is driven to find innovative solutions through new technologies, partnerships, marketing and community projects. Before creating his namesake company, Ryan served as Art & Marketing Director for the largest event rental company in the nation, Classic Party Rentals, and served as transition designer for its acquired partner, Regal Rents. He has also worked as a journalist and humor columnist for Gazette Newspapers. Ryan has received numerous accolades for his creative and entrepreneurial projects. He has been featured in Long Beach Magazine, the Long Beach Press-Telegram, The District Weekly, LBPost.com, and LBReport.com for his entrepreneurial work and accomplishments.

Rachel Potucek moved to Southern California from her native state of Kansas in 2005. Prior to joining Smolarcorp, Rachel has been an aide to U.S. Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez and Long Beach City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal, providing constituent services, casework, media communications, event organizing and research. Her formal education is in Speech Communications with emphasis in Political Rhetoric (Kansas State University). She has served on the Executive Committee for the Arts Council for Long Beach and graduated with the 2009 Class of Leadership Long Beach, and has been featured in Long Beach Magazine and The District Weekly.