20 on '20: With jobs booked, construction firm Wright-Ryan focuses on hiring
File Photo / Tim Greenway
John Ryan, president of Wright-Ryan Construction, says internships and recruitment are top priorities this year.
Growth is the key word for Wright-Ryan Construction in 2020.
“We’re excited because we have the opportunity to grow alongside our clients,” says John Ryan, president. “We’re seeing a lot of our clients experience tremendous growth.”
Challenges in 2020 and beyond are prevalent, though. “We face some of the same headwinds that all construction companies in our region and the country are facing: the biggest is recruitment and retention in a tight labor market,” Ryan says.
Wright-Ryan is addressing these issues through additional recruitment efforts in schools and running a “very robust” internship program, Ryan says. Another challenge is keeping up with advancements in technology. Ryan notes that construction has a reputation for being a little dull. “It’s a very exciting business, using the latest technology tools and we try to address that in recruitment and retention.”
Workforce is a critical issue for Wright-Ryan, with a number of projects underway, including two sizeable jobs on Franklin Street in Portland. It’s building a condominium building, the 31-unit Verdante at Lincoln Park, for NewHeight Group at the corner of Federal and Hampshire streets. For the Portland Housing Authority, Wright-Ryan is managing construction of the Boyd Street Apartments, at 58 Boyd St., working from plans from CWS Architects. It will be six stories, with 55 housing units.
Wright-Ryan has been investing in technology in both the office and the field.
Ryan notes that every year the company does a deep dive into strategic planning with a consistent focus throughout the year to execute that plan. “Construction is all about planning and scheduling projects, but we apply that same focus to the way we run our business,” he says.
The employee-owned firm has focused heavily on customer service — it surveys customers regularly, Ryan says. Current and past customers say that customer service is the key differentiator that sets Wright-Ryan apart.
“We believe our reputation is our strongest asset and we work to build it,” Ryan says.
Within the company, there are opportunities for continued success, something that contributes to employees feeling valued and excited about going to work, he says.
“Making it more than just a job [and] focusing on making careers for people” is an important part of this, he says. Career ladders, opportunities for further education and development are all things the firm will continue to focus on this year.
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