President
Mr. Ranson has over 29 years of project management, construction management, engineering, and design experience encompassing an extremely diverse range of industrial applications. His project and construction management expertise includes scope definition, planning, estimating, scheduling, purchasing, budgeting, personnel supervision, direct client/contractor coordination, engineering and design oversight, shutdown planning, safety, fabrication and construction oversight, and start-up assistance. His project management experience spans the entire project lifecycle from concept to start-up and beyond. His engineering and design capabilities include the compilation and analysis of basic data, equipment and material specifications, P&ID and flow diagram development, system design, tank and pressure vessel design, machine design, robotics, HVAC, process ventilation, piping, mechanical, civil/structural, and process design. His background includes extensive field assignments involving design, construction management and on-site troubleshooting. This experience encompasses numerous industrial facilities including pharmaceutical, food, tobacco, aerospace, fiber and paper, metals, petrochemical, acid and acid neutralization, power, and wastewater treatment.
In his role as President of Progressive Design, Mr. Ranson has remained actively involved in the company’s technical operations. Though recognized and awarded for his entrepreneurial accomplishments, he is more widely known for the quality of his work, creative ability, and track record of innovation. He has been directly involved in the development of new generation technology including water purification systems for the military, web handling equipment for the tobacco and aerospace industries, custom assembly equipment for the medical products industry, a piping connector for the U.S. Navy (Patent# US 6,536,811 B1), robotic end effectors for the metals industry, defect detection systems for the paper and film industries, and new generation spinning machines for the synthetic fibers industry.
As a PDI project engineer, he oversees multi-discipline project teams to ensure clients design deliverables are issued on time and on budget.
EDUCATION:
1976-1978: John Tyler Community College
1976-1980: VCU
PATENTS AND AWARDS:
- Owner of US Patent# US 6,536,811 B1
- Finalist of the “1994 Greater Richmond Rising 25” Award
- Finalist of “The Richmond Chamber of Commerce 1995 Entrepreneur of the Year” Award
- American Solutions – 2010 Businessman of the Year
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS:
- Past member of the Professional Association of Energy Engineers
- Past member of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry
- Past member of the Richmond Joint Engineering Council
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
- Past Member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce
- Served on Workforce Development Leadership Council
- Past Member of the Greater Richmond Technology Council
robert.ranson@progressive-design.com • E-mail
(804) 330-8055 • Office Phone
