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Ryan McDonald鈥檚 dad, Mike, started McDonald Excavating Inc. in 1980 as a demolition and excavation firm in Washougal, Washington. Ryan grew up watching his father run the business and learned from him. He earned his degree in construction management and worked for Skanska for several years before returning to work alongside his father in 2006.

鈥淢y plan was always to get outside experience and then come back and help my dad out with the business. That鈥檚 something I wanted to do from the time I was pretty young,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e always kept things pretty small and I knew that if he was going to retire comfortably, and if I was going to take over the business, we were going to need to grow.鈥�

In 2012, Ryan McDonald became a partial owner and president of the company. Last July, he took over 100 percent ownership. McDonald Excavating鈥檚 services have expanded to include site work, including earthwork, grading and underground utilities, for large commercial building projects, industrial sites, and public roads and highways.

Its clientele encompasses government agencies, large commercial development companies, other contractors and private landowners. The company, certified as a DBE and MBE, serves the Southwest Washington and Portland metro areas.

Ryan McDonald said he takes pride in running a company where his 70 employees can establish lifetime careers rather than just coming to a job every day. He appreciates being in a position to take care of his team and enjoys getting to know their families. He said he also is grateful that his team and his company have stood strong through the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 probably been the biggest test for me. I feel fortunate that I鈥檝e been able to grow my company to the point that I have good people to take care of the business, but if COVID had happened 10 years ago when I was wearing all the hats, I don鈥檛 know if I would have survived,鈥� he said.

A longtime member of NAMC-OR, Ryan McDonald said the relationships he has built through the organization and the advocacy Nate McCoy and Molly Washington provide are invaluable.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have them in your corner and your name comes up in meetings you don鈥檛 even know about, which creates new opportunities,鈥� he said.