Building a $5M Empire Ron Perry's Game-Changing Journey in Construction Management

Small Biz Tips

Ron Perry graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1997 where he studied Systems Engineering and Military History. He served 8 years in the Army where he ultimately served as a company commander in the 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Ron's company was responsible for providing security and conducting counterinsurgency operations for a neighborhood of 60,000 Iraqi citizens in the Mansour District of Baghdad. Ron's duties also required him to meet with local Iraqi leaders, help them shape their own version of democracy, and rebuild their community. He later served as a brigade information operations officer where his duties included setting up lines of communications with the over one million people of southern Baghdad through the creation of newspapers, a radio station, and billboards.

Ron left the Army in 2005 and moved to St Louis to be a father to his newborn twin sons, Ethan and Austin. He accepted a position with a large St. Louis based general contractor where he learned the role of a construction project manager. His ability to effectively break down complicated issues into easy-to-understand decisions was noticed by a client in 2007 and was offered a position as a construction owner's representative. He accepted and quickly became a trusted advisor to multiple clients including Pfizer, Scottrade and Logan College of Chiropractic. He was laid off in 2009 as a result of the recession.

Ron's personal and professional life spiraled downward very quickly in 2009. After being laid off, he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder stemming from his time in the military, lost vision in his right eye, turned to alcohol to deal with the pain, and ultimately lost his home to foreclosure. Nine months later, Ron finally began to put his life back together through VA counseling, prayer, and support from his family and friends.

In 2009, Ron began a new career as a travelling construction manager responsible for overseeing projects for his new client, Kellogg's, at their production plants all over the country. He spent the next 5 years travelling nearly 300 days a year for work and spending the remaining time with his sons. Ron resigned his position in 2014 and became a private contractor in hopes of finding a better work/life balance. Despite his resignation from his previous employer, Kellogg representatives continued to seek his leadership and eventually convinced him to start his own business in 2016.

Despite becoming an entrepreneur through nontraditional means and without a formal business education, Ron quickly showed a high level of business acumen and grew his company nearly 50% per year for the next 5 years. Perry Construction Management, LLC has made the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Businesses List the last 2 years as well as Best Place to Work. His servant leadership towards his clients has earned the trust of several major manufacturers around the country including Kellogg's, Keebler, Ferrara, Clif Bar, and Pepsico.

Ron's true passion is helping others. He has used his business success to drastically improve the lives of others. He spearheaded efforts to build a rainwater collection system for a small village and purchased a generator for an elementary school of 2,200 students in Kenya. He also set up a charitable group providing gently used clothes and toys for children in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, he provides affordable homes and college scholarships for those in need in his impoverished hometown of West Frankfort, IL. He is building a new staffing vertical in his current business in order to be able to give more to those in need.

Ron married his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Singer, in March 2022, after two years of COVID delays. They reside in Smyrna, GA

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