Florida construction industry veteran Frank Rygiel has joined Walbridge, a top-50 U.S. contractor, as its new Vice President and General Manager of the company's Florida Group. Rygiel comes to Walbridge from Batson-Cook Construction, where he worked for eight years and served most recently as Project Executive/Vice President of Business Development.

Rygiel began his career as an estimator with Lincoln Construction, then joined Skanska and worked there as a Senior Project Manager for nine years. He earned a degree in Construction Management from East Carolina University.

"Frank has great experience in the Florida construction market and we'll leverage that to get Walbridge in front of new customers in new industries," Walbridge Executive Vice President Donald Greenwell, P.E., said. "His overall track record in multi-family residential, private development and higher education is exemplary and with Frank's guidance we can deliver great value to owners across the state."

Rygiel is also active in local education and planning organizations, including serving as a board member with the following: Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation, Leadership Tampa Bay, the Children's Dream Fund, Lutz Preparatory School, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, and Associated Builders and Contractors – Florida Gulf Coast.

In Florida, Walbridge has constructed a number of large, prominent projects, including the Tampa Bay History Center, Gopher Resources' new battery smelter and recycling center, and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City. Currently, Walbridge is leading the exterior renovation of the 100-year-oldTampa City Hall building. In 2016, Walbridge's Florida office was named by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as a Best Places to Work Award winner.

Walbridge (www.walbridge.com) is an Engineering News-Record "Top 50" construction company. Founded in 1916, Walbridge is headquartered in Detroit and has more than a dozen offices located across the United States and conducts international operations in Canada, Mexico and South America.