MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Ryan Companies announces the promotions of Rick Peper, Mitch Kittel, Bill O’Connell, and Josh Bergstrom to Vice President. These four field operations team members have been with Ryan for more than 100 years combined.

Bergstrom has been promoted to Vice President of Field Training and Development. In his role, he will be responsible for managing and coordinating the training and development of field managers across the entire company. Bergstrom will also develop, conduct, and implement training programs and materials. Since joining Ryan in 2005, he has played a vital role in transforming the training program to ensure safety, quality, and efficiency.

Kittel has been promoted to Vice President of Industrial Sector Field Operations. In his role, he oversees more than $2 billion of industrial projects and associated field activities, which includes managing field team members and directing the construction process. Kittel joined Ryan in 1985 and is instrumental in delivering projects with the best possible value to clients.

O’Connell has been promoted to Vice President of Field Development and Performance. In his new role, he will be responsible for administering and measuring standard practices across all field operations. O’Connell's focus will be assisting and training field team members to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and by following safety and quality protocols. He joined Ryan in 2002 and has played a major role in developing team members.

Peper has been promoted to Vice President of North Region Field Operations. He will continue overseeing field activities such as managing field team members and directing the construction process, with a focus on budgets, schedules, and safety. Peper joined Ryan in 1983 as a Field Coordinator and has taken on several roles in the field, all while displaying his leadership skills.

Ryan Companies is a national builder, developer, designer, and real estate manager based in Minneapolis. Employing nearly 1,300 workers, Ryan is a construction company that specializes in integrated project delivery, building information modeling, Lean construction practices, and sustainable design for office, retail, industrial, public sector, alternative energy (biomass & gasification, wind, solar), health care, higher education, hospitality, mission critical, multi-family and senior housing, and mixed-use projects. Ryan has offices in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Phoenix, Arizona; the Quad Cities; San Diego, California; Tampa, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.