W. Ryan Welch is a Senior Vice President at Cauthen, Forbes & Williams. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Welch served on the staff of United States Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. From January 2002 to September 2007, Mr. Welch served as a legislative correspondent, legislative assistant and legislative director for Senator Shelby. During his time in the Senate, Mr. Welch covered a broad portfolio of issues including: agriculture, commerce, energy, environment, education, trade, waterways, law enforcement, Homeland Security, NASA, FEMA, transportation, science and natural resources. As a legislative assistant, Mr. Welch served as the primary staffer on all domestic appropriations issues, which required evaluation of projects for inclusion. He carries particular expertise in issues surrounding the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, of which Senator Shelby is the ranking member.

Mr. Welch has also worked closely with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate leadership during the development of energy legislation of particular interest to Alabama, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.

Mr. Welch has been active in the Republican Party in Alabama and on the national level. He has worked on several campaigns including the successful U.S. Senate campaigns of Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) in 2004 and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) in 2006. In 2006, he also worked on GOTV efforts in Tennessee. Mr. Welch is also a long-time volunteer and member of the Planning Committee for the YMCA's Youth Conference on National Affairs.

W. Ryan Welch is a graduate of Auburn University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and is a native of Wetumpka, Alabama.