Dr. Ramona Tumblin-Rucker, PEng, MBA, MPM, CHC, D. Mgt., Director of Construction Management at M Property Services (MPS), has been awarded the prestigious “Private Sector Executive of the Year” award by the MOKAN Construction Contractors Assistance Center. Dr. Tumblin-Rucker received her award at the organization’s 45th Annual MOKAN Awards dinner on Nov. 22 in St. Louis.
Since 1974, MOKAN has been at the forefront of efforts to provide opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses on construction projects in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. MOKAN’s goal is to increase the number of qualified MBE and WBE contractors and workers, as well as increase the amount of public and private dollars spent with them.
“I am blessed and I take great pride that an industry trailblazer like MOKAN would find M Property Services and our work worthy of such an important award. Like MOKAN efforts to bring innovation to the industry of construction, we at MPS are bringing innovation to urban development and uplifting economic opportunity by creating jobs and improving the landscape of North St. Louis,” said Dr. Tumblin-Rucker.
Hired by M Property Services in April 2019, Dr. Tumblin-Rucker has been focused on oversite and construction management for projects within MPS Chairman and CEO Paul McKee, Jr.’s NorthSide Regeneration development, a 1,500-acre mixed-use revitalization of underserved North St. Louis located less than a mile from Downtown St. Louis, The Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium.
With a $390 million TIF approved for public infrastructure improvements, NorthSide Regeneration provides a unique and remarkable opportunity to apply new technologies in health, energy, transportation, housing and education. To date, $107 million in private investments have funded the acquisition of 2,300 individual lots, development planning and the start of site clean-up. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has committed to building a $1.7 billion campus on a 100-acre site within the development that would support 7,200 jobs with an average salary of approximately $95,000.
Additional plans for NorthSide Regeneration include three million square feet for offices, two million square feet for retail, one million square feet for tech, 3,000 market rate residential units and a primary care hospital. A solar-powered ZOOM gas station and convenience store and GreenLeaf Market near the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge have been completed. Display homes for a new zero-energy, 250-home residential development within NorthSide Regeneration are also nearing completion.
Creating jobs is the primary motivator behind the NorthSide Regeneration development – with a goal of more than 43,000 construction jobs and 22,000 permanent jobs generated by the development’s activity.
“I am excited about the work we do at MPS. It isn’t often that our daily work touches the spirit of our heart. Every day that I can work towards building healthcare facilities, schools or community-driven projects whose intent is to improve the lives of all people; it’s awesome,” said Dr. Tumblin-Rucker. “The Private Sector Executive of the Year award will be embraced at M Property Services and we will continue to work hard to bring our best to service the community and improve our city.”
Dr. Tumblin-Rucker has a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO; MBA in Management from Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, OK; Master of Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management in St. Louis, MO and Doctor of Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, MO.
She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Associated General Contractors of St. Louis, St. Louis Construction Forum, St. Louis Construction Consumers Council, Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering, American Society for Healthcare Engineering, and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.