Episode: Building Impact with Engineering and Relationships — with Ryan Labus
Host: Vision Pros Live | Guest: Ryan Labus, Business Development Manager, Pro Engineering Consulting
Summary
On this episode of Vision Pros Live, we meet Ryan Labus, Business Development Manager at Pro Engineering Consulting, a medium-sized, family-owned firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and structural engineering. Ryan shares how Pro Engineering supports architects and contractors, why coordination matters in every project, and what it means to build a business development function in a long-standing engineering company.
Ryan speaks candidly about corporate vs. family business culture, the satisfaction of seeing projects come to life, and the importance of deadlines in engineering. He also shares highlights from two major projects—a private U.S. airport and a ground-up private school—and explains Pro Engineering’s growth strategy through trade shows, mentoring, and content creation.
Chapters
00:00:15 – Introduction and welcome
00:01:00 – What Pro Engineering Consulting does
00:02:40 – Commercial vs. residential projects
00:04:20 – Ryan’s role as Business Development Manager
00:07:00 – Vision when joining Pro Engineering in 2022
00:09:20 – Why podcasting and awareness matter
00:12:00 – What makes Pro Engineering unique (one-stop shop, QC, bandwidth, deadlines)
00:17:40 – Recent projects: largest private airport in the U.S. & new private school
00:22:30 – Joys of the work: relationships and seeing projects completed
00:25:50 – From corporate culture to family-owned business impact
00:29:00 – Hands-on leadership from CEO Ramin
00:32:30 – Clarifying MEP: mechanical, electrical, plumbing
00:35:00 – Growth strategy: organizations, trade shows, educational content
00:38:00 – Closing thoughts and thank-you
Action Items
- Engage MEP early: Coordination prevents rework and ensures smooth delivery.
- Simplify the “cooks in the kitchen”: Fewer subs = streamlined design and fewer delays.
- Prioritize deadlines over cost: On major projects, timely delivery avoids costly overruns.
- Leverage hands-on leadership: Accessible executives build trust and responsiveness.
- Expand visibility: Podcasts, LinkedIn posts, trade shows, and speaking engagements grow brand and personal trust.
- Balance family culture with scale: Stay nimble and personal while delivering large-scale projects.
HOST
Tell me more about Pro Engineering Consulting.
RYAN LABUS
So Pro Engineering is a medium-sized family-owned business that offers a few different engineering services. We work with different architects and contractors on construction projects of all types and sizes—custom homes, apartment buildings, restaurants and bars, industrial and manufacturing centers.
The engineering services we provide are mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural. So think of the utilities of the building, and then the skeleton of the structure itself. A lot of what we do can sometimes feel like the “boring side,” but really it’s the glue—helping piece everything together in the project to support the architect’s vision.
HOST
Makes sense. Do you all do more commercial than residential?
RYAN LABUS
I’d say mainly commercial, yeah. We do a lot of multifamily and senior living. That falls under commercial, compared to single-family residential. Definitely more commercial overall.
HOST
And your role there at Pro Engineering is Business Development Manager, correct?
RYAN LABUS
Yes.
HOST
As a Business Development Manager, what is your part in the business?
RYAN LABUS
I wear multiple hats. I definitely coordinate with the project management team, but my main goal is driving new business—building and maintaining relationships. Pro started as a small family-owned business, founded in 1985. There was no formal sales or marketing team until I came on in 2022. Now I manage a small team of three.
I also work alongside ownership and a marketing agency we’ve brought on to target new architectural firms, identify prospects, and pursue them through multiple methods.
HOST
You joined in 2022. What was your vision when you accepted the position?
RYAN LABUS
My vision was to help a small business grow. I’d been in more corporatized structures before—lots of micromanagement and oversight. At Pro, there are checks and balances, but they needed someone with industry knowledge of construction and design.
My background is in construction—I worked in the field with several contractors and then in project management. I knew the lingo, had the experience, and wanted to sharpen my sales and networking skills.
When I met with Ramin, the owner, I really liked where he was coming from—trustworthy, family-oriented, supportive. I felt inspired to come in, be a “bigger fish in a smaller pond,” and make an impact on the company’s overall performance.
HOST
And now you’re podcasting! Why put yourself out here?
RYAN LABUS
Awareness. Hopefully an architect or someone needing our services comes across this. It’s also about building my own personal brand and showing personality—it gives the company a face.
Engineering can seem boring, but if people feel like they know you a bit, it helps. And if what I share helps someone else in a similar role or industry, that’s a win.
HOST
What makes Pro Engineering unique?
RYAN LABUS
A few things:
- Multiple services in-house. We offer MEP + Structural under one roof. It cuts down the “cooks in the kitchen” and streamlines coordination.
- Strong internal quality control. Multiple levels of review, plus principal engineers with 40+ years’ experience.
- Project management system. Lets us take on a large bandwidth monthly while still hitting turnaround times.
- Meeting deadlines. In this industry, the cost of delay is often greater than the cost itself. Many architects say they already have someone they work with—but if we can start immediately and meet deadlines, that’s the differentiator.
HOST
Can you share recent projects?
RYAN LABUS
We’ve done 50–60 projects in the past month alone. Two stand out:
- A private airport — It’s going to be the largest privately owned airport in the U.S. once finished. The process has been fascinating—ventilation for hangars with fuel, specialized lighting, lots of controls. It’s been out of the ordinary for us, which makes it exciting.
- A private school — A ground-up development with a major architectural firm and contractor. Designing a school requires considerations I’d never thought about—it’s complex but rewarding.
HOST
What brings you joy in your work?
RYAN LABUS
Personally, I love making connections and getting to know people—I’m pretty extroverted. Professionally, it’s seeing projects completed and clients satisfied. Some projects are transactional—like warehouses—but others are personal: a dream home, a new restaurant. Being part of that journey, helping with efficiency and operations, is incredibly rewarding.
HOST
You came from corporate. How does family-owned compare?
RYAN LABUS
Corporate can make you feel like another ant in the ant farm. Family-owned, you feel direct impact. In BD, I’m almost solely responsible for driving new business. That responsibility keeps me motivated—it keeps the rest of the team employed and fed.
HOST
And leadership?
RYAN LABUS
Our CEO, Ramin, is very hands-on. Sometimes maybe too much! But he’ll go to job sites, attend coordination meetings, even jump on calls directly. No layers of gatekeeping. If there’s an issue, you can reach him directly. That level of leadership is rare.
HOST
Let’s clarify—MEP?
RYAN LABUS
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing. Mechanical is HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning). Electrical is power. Plumbing is self-explanatory. It’s the utilities side—wiring, pipes, everything that must fit within a space without ruining the aesthetics. We help conceal it while ensuring comfort and efficiency.
HOST
What’s next for Pro Engineering?
RYAN LABUS
Growth through visibility:
- Joining professional organizations (mentorship, community give-back).
- Trade shows across the U.S.
- Educational content (LinkedIn posts, articles, webinars).
- Speaking engagements—getting Ramin on stage as keynote.
Ultimately, we want to expand awareness, continue providing quality engineering, and show that even as a family-owned firm, we can deliver at scale.
HOST
Ryan, thank you for being here today.
RYAN LABUS
Thank you—it’s been a pleasure.
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