Minneapolis (January 9, 2012) — Paul Springthorpe has joined Ryan Companies US, Inc., as vice president of its distribution sector.  Springthorpe will lead the Ryan team responsible for building and developing cold storage and distribution center facilities, and he will oversee business development, client relationships, executive level communications, and overall marketing strategies for the division.  

“Distribution centers have unique construction challenges – floor quality is critical, as are minimizing humidity and reducing operational energy costs,” said Jeff Smith, executive vice president, client services for Ryan. “Paul brings 27 years of experience in construction and development, with significant expertise in the cold storage and distribution areas.  The depth and breadth of his background will build on the strength and reputation of our existing distribution center team, who have built millions of square feet of distribution space and are nationally ranked in the top five distribution builders.”

Prior to joining Ryan, Springthorpe was senior vice president of CHA’s Food and Refrigerated Distribution group where he was responsible for national market sector business development leadership.  His background includes work as senior vice president of distribution for Kmart Corporation, leading all distribution logistics operations.  In addition, Springthorpe has held a variety of senior positions which gave him experience in construction, architecture, design/build, engineering, logistics, and project management. 

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a national builder, designer, developer and real estate manager specializing in fully integrated solutions for more than 70 years. With a mission to build lasting relationships, Ryan delivers full-service customized solutions based on industry expertise and total collaboration — pairing customers’ expectations with a specialized team of constructors, architects, engineers, developers, property managers and financiers. Ryan serves customers throughout the United States with offices in the Midwest, Southwest, Great Lakes and Southeast regions. Ryan was named the 2007 National Developer of the Year by the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP). For more information, visit www.ryancompanies.com

Editor’s note: Interviews with Ryan executives are available by contacting Clare Scott at 612-492-4446 or clare.scott@ryancompanies.com