Saunders Construction Promotes Justin Cooper to President & CEO and Ryan Balakas to Senior Vice President

(Englewood, Colo.) — June 4, 2026 — Saunders Construction is pleased to announce Justin Cooper will assume the role of President & Chief Executive Officer on July 1. He will be responsible for enterprise-wide strategy, operations and results that deliver on Saunders’ purpose and values.

After more than a decade of distinguished leadership, Greg Schmidt will transition out of the role of Chief Executive Officer as part of a thoughtfully planned leadership succession. Schmidt will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board, providing ongoing guidance on the company’s long-term strategy and governance.

Cooper joined Saunders in 2016, becoming President in 2020, and has over 27 years of construction experience in the Rocky Mountain region. He has previously served as Construction Manager and Vice President, supporting Saunders project teams and its preconstruction, integrated technologies, marketing and business development groups. He brings experience building successful teams on over 6 million square feet of construction on multiple large-scale, complex projects in nine states throughout the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions. Cooper currently serves on the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is Chairperson of the Colorado chapter of Young Presidents Organization, and has previously served on seven boards of non-profit and civic leadership organizations.

“I am honored to step into this role and carry forward Saunders Construction’s 54-year legacy — one built project by project, relationship by relationship, and earned through the trust of our clients, partners and in the communities where we build. Our values – care, collaboration, commitment, and community –first established by our founder, Dick Saunders, and fostered by Greg’s exceptional leadership, will continue to guide our strategic and day-to-day operations. Our foundation is strong, our people are exceptional, and our commitment to being the Rocky Mountain region’s preeminent planners and master builders has never been stronger. Our best work is still ahead of us, and I’m ready to get to work,” stated Justin Cooper.

In addition, Ryan Balakas will be appointed Senior Vice President on July 1. In this expanded role, Balakas will oversee the Saunders Norwood and Mountain Operations business units, in addition to the Denver-based Commercial business unit. Within these business units, Balakas is responsible for the strategic direction and continuous improvement of work acquisition, planning, and execution, as well as client experience. He also oversees the organization’s learning and development, project administration, and continuous improvement efforts. This appointment reflects his strong leadership, significant contributions to the company’s success, and an expanded scope of responsibilities aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities.

Balakas joined Saunders Construction in 2006 and became vice president in 2015, growing the Express business unit, starting Saunders Norwood Construction, and recently, overseeing several large commercial and healthcare projects.

This transition is the result of careful, intentional planning and reflects the strong foundation the company has built over its history. Schmidt leaves the role having accomplished what he set out to achieve, with the organization on a solid financial and operational footing, and well into the execution of its 2027 Strategic Plan.

“Saunders Construction’s commitment to safety, our people, exceptional client experiences, and our core values remains unchanged. I look forward to continuing to support the executive team as the company advances into its next chapter,” stated Greg Schmidt.

About Saunders

Saunders serves the commercial building industry as a full-service general contractor, design-builder and construction manager. A leader in the Colorado construction industry since its inception in 1972, Saunders’ experience includes a wide range of project types. Saunders is one of the region’s largest general contractors and is the recipient of more than 100 industry awards for its construction excellence, employee achievements and community contributions. In addition, Saunders is a member of the Citadel Group – an alliance of seven regional construction-related companies with operations in 19 cities. For additional information, please visit www.saundersinc.com.

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Teena Bergstrand, Vice President of Market Strategies & Communications

303-617-6511

m.inquiries@saundersinc.com

Saunders Construction, Inc.

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