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63 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S capabilities. In terms of sustainability and cost-efficiency, pre- fabrication reduces material waste while enhancing productivity, leading to lower overall project costs. For example, the team was able to reduce the structural erection sequence on a recent project by 50% using prefabricated materials, delivering the final project eight weeks ahead of schedule and under budget. Wright-Ryan's latest innovative initiative is the introduction of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) council. e council aims to explore synergies with, and the use of, current technologies including Building Information Modeling (BIM), drones, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). e adoption of these tools enables Wright-Ryan to stay at the forefront of leading technolo- gies, increasing project capabilities and streamlining operations for its growing client list and long-standing industry partners. Building Communities and Partnerships A key tenet of the company's history and its decades of success, Wright-Ryan's focus on cultivating community and industry partnerships has paved the way for its future. Founded on a relationship-based approach, the company has made a concerted effort to build an active pipeline of projects across industries with new and long-standing partners alike. Wright-Ryan is known for its work on a range of diverse and challenging projects throughout New England, partner- ing with community-centric institutions — including work on the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine, the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Portland Stage, and ongoing work at Portland Community Squash. e company also continues to lead in prioritizing sustainably focused partnerships, with recent projects like Vertical Harvest, a first-of-its-kind vertical hydroponic farm system, and the Village Centre Apartments in Brewer — one of the nation's first, and largest, Passive House certified multifamily affordable housing communities. Alongside its focus on building spaces for families and com- munities to enjoy for generations, the company takes pride in its work to support nonprofits and local organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Maine College of Art & Design, the University of Maine System, Opportunity Alliance, Portland Stage Company, and Preble Street. Investing in the Future of its Team One of the major milestones highlighted during the company's 40th anniversary celebrations was its implementation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) back in 2016. Following years of planning, Wright-Ryan transitioned to 100% employee owner- ship, providing all employee owners with a new retirement benefit alongside the existing employer-matched 401(k) program. e move was particularly notable, considering that less than 1-in-200 American businesses are employee-owned (Source: Certified EO — 'Why Aren't ere More Employee-Owned Companies?'). is also underscored another notable feature of Wright-Ryan's team culture — its advancement of women in construction. Female team members represent 15% of Wright-Ryan's total workforce, far sur- passing the national average, with 45% of women at Wright-Ryan serving in senior leadership positions. e company continues to make strides in its investment towards its team, highlighted by the recent relaunch of Wright-Ryan's Employee Ownership Communications Committee (EOCC). e committee hosts a dedicated group of 10 team members focused on enhancing Wright-Ryan's employee ownership culture. Informed by ongoing listening circles, these team-forward initia- tives aim to engage employee-owners at every level. As Wright- Ryan approaches its annual strategic planning this September, these efforts will only continue to grow and evolve. "With leadership coming from every corner of the company, and our unbeatable team culture, we are well prepared for a bright future," said Sparn, the firm's new president, during a company meeting earlier this year. "Collaborating closely with our team and our business partners, I am honored to guide Wright-Ryan forward, expand on the company's legacy, and continue building for generations to come." l S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E 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 D E S I G N B Y S A U N D E R S A R C H I T E C T U R E , I M A G E B Y M I R Below: The Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Left: Wright-Ryan team at their annual meeting in May 2024