Congratulations to Ryan O’Toole who was named a Newsmakers Construction Executive of the Year because Ryan is not only making his mark in Southeast Wisconsin’s construction market, but is navigating the family and employee-owned Hunzinger Construction Company to its most successful years on record with $361 million in volume and $400 million on track for next year. Ryan brings the right experience, temperament, knowledge of the industry, and relationships to his executive role in business development, marketing, and overall company management.
For the last five years, Ryan as he coordinated and led Hunzinger’s effort to pursue and win the award of the $285 million Komatsu South Harbor Campus Project, multiple projects in Janesville for the international company GEA, and numerous other projects. Hunzinger has earned the number 1 spot the list of “Largest Milwaukee-area construction firms” for the last 3 years.
The feature published in The Daily Reporter’s Special Newsmakers magazine noted that construction is in Ryan’s blood. He grew up admiring the work ethic of his grandfather, Dick Hunzinger, and got an inside look at the business through his father, Kevin O’Toole. He saw how they loved making people’s lives better by providing new spaces, whether it was a new office, place to live or play – like the facilities on Summerfest Grounds, Deer District or American Family Field.
Ryan has a leadership style that brings the best out of his teammates and inspires them to work harder while thoroughly enjoying themselves. He brings an attention to detail to his work that evokes his time in the field as a craftsperson.
O’Toole says that one of the biggest challenges in his work is finding opportunities that are right for Hunzinger. The easy part is putting the team together and working with them to win the project. The hard part is finding ways to beat the competition. We are blessed to be in a market with such high-quality contractors that it makes the owner’s decision very difficult to select the best partner for their project. Ryan says that each pursuit is unique, just like every project is, and developing the team and strategy takes time and effort from everyone at Hunzinger.
Ryan was also recognized as a leader who is committed to improving our community with a dedication to volunteering that carries on the tradition at Hunzinger to “Do the Right Thing”. He sets an example by his charity leadership with Make-A-Wish WI, Hard Hats for Heart, and his personal volunteering to make and donate monthly meals for the homeless on the Eastside of Milwaukee. Ryan is also serving on the AGC board and has been named the Chair of the Waukesha County Business Alliance’s Construction Executive Council. He is also a certified Volunteer Musician’s Guide for Musicians on Call.
Ryan leads by example and while his job is very demanding on his time and he has an awesome wife and 2 kids, he always manages to find time to give back, along with is family, to work to make our community better. That is what strong leaders do. He serves as a positive example to others just entering their professions that they are “more than their jobs” and that supporting your community and volunteering can be very rewarding and enriching experiences. At Hunzinger, our mission statement says, “Do the Right Thing” and O’Toole, takes that to heart. He is positioned to lead Hunzinger into its next phase of growth. At Hunzinger, Ryan has proven that he is dedicated to “building community” both figuratively and literally.
