People Who Lead: Adrian Ruiz, Superintendent
We’re excited to introduce you to Adrian Ruiz, Superintendent at Rodgers, as part of our People Who Lead series. Rodgers is built by people with a wide range of experiences, passions, and perspectives—and we believe that diversity makes us stronger. This series celebrates the unique journeys of our team members and the incredible work they do to shape the communities we serve.
My name is Adrian Garcia Ruiz, and I have been a Superintendent at Rodgers for the past five years. My journey to construction started long before my first official job—it began as a kid growing up in southeastern North Carolina after my family moved from Mexico, where I was born. My father managed several farms, and as the oldest son in a family of five, I spent my weekends and summers helping him with whatever needed to be built or fixed. That’s where I first picked up a skill saw, learned to use a square and tape measure, and operated machinery. Though I eventually went to school for business and management and held leadership positions in other industries, construction found me again when a good friend offered me an opportunity. He needed a bilingual leader to manage a labor crew with basic carpentry skills, and that moment was the start of my career in construction.
From the beginning, I was lucky to have a mentor—an experienced superintendent with over 20 years in healthcare construction. He took me under his wing and taught me the ins and outs of the industry. It was a lot to absorb, but I was up for the challenge. I believe that mentorship is most successful when both people are willing to learn from each other and adapt. Everyone has a different learning style, and understanding that is key to being both a good mentor and a good mentee.
Now, as a superintendent, I see the bigger picture of construction’s impact on the community. Most of my career has been in healthcare construction, and I take pride in knowing that the hospitals and medical facilities I help build will serve people for years to come. My first project with Rodgers, however, was something different—a magnet elementary school. That experience opened my eyes even further to the importance of what we do. The school was deeply valued by the community, and the staff was incredibly grateful for their new facility. Seeing firsthand how the buildings we create help, nourish, and provide jobs in a community is what makes this work so fulfilling.
I am proud of every job I’ve been involved in because each one contributes to something bigger than myself. I’m also proud of the family I’ve built. My wife, Lizeth, and my two boys, Xander and Aaron, inspire me every day to be the best version of myself. Right now, my biggest hobby is being a devoted dad and keeping up with all their activities. My oldest plays varsity football, and my youngest is in little league, so most of my free time is spent at games or practices. When I do get a moment to myself, I love watching live sports and spending time outdoors.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to me means accepting everyone as their own individual self. Construction is a field full of different perspectives and backgrounds, and that diversity is what makes a project team strong. When we respect and value each other’s experiences, we build more than just buildings—we build better teams.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Albert Einstein: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” This mindset has carried me through my career. Every job, every challenge, and every mentorship has been an opportunity to learn and grow, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.