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B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S 62 Building for Generations Wright-Ryan Celebrates Forty Years S i n c e i t s f o u n d i n g i n 1 9 8 4 , W r i g h t - R y a n has been building Maine's great spaces — built envi- ronments where Maine's people have lived, worked, learned and thrived for generations. Now, in their 40th anniversary year, Wright-Ryan is looking to the future, all while highlighting team members, partners and projects that have been integral to its past four decades of success. Established by Tom Wright and John Ryan, Wright-Ryan was born out of a shared belief in creating a relationship-based firm. e two childhood friends had spent summers together working on Cliff Island and along the coast of Maine, further developing their expertise in construction. In the early '80s, they began planning out ideas for their own firm — one where people cared about each other and were invested in each other's suc- cess. Since its founding, the company has grown to include over 100 team members, spanning both commercial and residential construction. Wright-Ryan has thrived for four decades, navi- gating two economic recessions and a global pandemic, while pursuing new avenues for growth and the implementation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Collectively, the company has attributed its success to a signature commitment to fundamental principles including leadership, innovation, partnership and team empowerment. roughout 2024, Wright-Ryan celebrated their 40th anniver- sary by shining a spotlight on those principles and how, amidst Wright-Ryan announcing its second-ever president earlier this year, the company will continue to champion its guiding beliefs and building for generations to come. e Next Generation of Leaders In March, Wright-Ryan announced its future president — Alan Sparn, who had previously served as COO for the company since 2022. Alan became only the second person in the company's history to fill the role, following 40 years under the leadership of co-founder, John Ryan, who will continue to contribute insights as chair of the company's Board of Directors. e announcement was made following a three-year succession planning process. With over 40 years of experience in the construction industry himself, introducing Alan as the company's next president was a milestone decision for Wright-Ryan, one that came after much thoughtful consideration and years of preparation. Prior to join- ing the team as COO, Alan served as executive vice president for a New York-based construction firm. His New England roots eventually drew him back to Maine, and he found his next role at Wright-Ryan, where he felt connected to the company's port- folio of work and the emphasis on company culture. With Alan stepping into his new role in July, the succession simultaneously represents the company's next chapter while showcasing its focus on fostering the next generation of leadership — both within the company and the construction industry. Wright-Ryan also ushered in the next era for its Homes Division earlier this year with the appointment of Greg Greenwald as vice president, succeeding Greg Lanou after his 18-year tenure. Greenwald, who joined the company in 2017, benefited from direct mentorship under Lanou, who continues to serve as vice president and a member of the Board of Directors. is thoughtful leadership shift was yet another example of Wright- Ryan's commitment to fostering internal talent and ensuring continuity within the team. Central to Wright-Ryan's emphasis on leadership develop- ment is its approach to mentorship. Over the past six months, 30 employee-owners have actively participated in the company's vigorous mentorship program. Held at Wright-Ryan's 20,000 square-foot Operations Center (Ops Center) in Westbrook, the program was designed to actively engage and empower the next generation of leaders within the construction industry. rough a combination of presentations, face-to-face time with the com- pany's external facilitator, and interactive one-on-one sessions, the mentorship program provides employee-owners with training and professional development opportunities. Innovating for the Future As the company looks ahead to the next 40 years, innovation remains at the forefront. An industry leader for utilizing new sustainable methods and prioritizing emerging technologies, Wright-Ryan has been at the forefront of sustainable construction for over 25 years. Across its portfolio, Wright-Ryan continu- ally develops projects that achieve LEED, Passive House and other performance standards. e company aims to continue this focus on sustainability, including the utilization of mass timber construction. Recently, Wright-Ryan employed the use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels in place of a tra- ditional masonry elevator shaft, significantly reducing carbon footprint, shortening the overall project schedule, and bringing construction costs in under budget for new staffing housing built for Witham Family Hotels in Bar Harbor. Many of these new methodologies have been made possible thanks to the company's recent investment in its Ops Center. e facility is home to several of Wright-Ryan's diversified lines of business and specialty services — including the company's Commercial Select Projects Division, Custom Millwork Group, Residential Services Division, Field Supervision, Operations & Maintenance, and Field Operations Division. Located in Westbrook, the Ops Center provides a controlled environment and versatile workspace for each line of business. Since its completion in 2022, the Ops Center has been heavily utilized for many of the company's projects and will support the ongoing expansion of Wright-Ryan's services and prefabrication B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T A R C H I V A L P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F W R I G H T - R Y A N P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F W R I G H T - R Y A N Above: John Ryan & Tom Wright, Casco Bay island lumber delivery via barge circa 1984 Below: Wright-Ryan's President, Alan Sparn Wright-Ryan 10 Danforth Street, Portland, ME, 04101 Sector: Construction Alan Sparn, President Founded: 1984 Maine employees: 100+ wright-ryan.com