Ryan Balakas

Ryan Balakas serves as senior vice president with direct oversight of Saunders Commercial Construction, Saunders Norwood Construction, and the Mountain Region work programs, including work acquisition, design/preconstruction phase management, and construction operations. Within these business units, Balakas is responsible for the strategic direction and continuous improvement of project procurement, planning and execution, and client experience. In addition, he oversees the organization’s learning and development, project administration, and continuous improvement efforts. 

Balakas is a relationship-focused leader — starting in the industry as an assistant carpenter and working his way up to his current role in executive leadership. He joined Saunders Construction in 2006 as a project engineer. His aptitude for client engagement and project management, paired with his ability to lead by example has positioned him as an invaluable member of the Saunders executive team. 

Balakas is an active member in the community, having participated in programs through Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Denver Metro Leadership Foundation, and Associated General Contractors of Colorado. Additionally, he has served on the board for the AdventHealth Littleton Hospital Foundation, Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, and University of Colorado Denver Construction Engineering Management advisory board. In 2017, he was named a Top 20 under 40 Design & Construction professional by Engineering News-Record (ENR).