When Chief Financial Officer Bethany Ropa stepped into her role at JE Dunn, she already knew the company well. After serving on the board of directors for four years, she joined the executive leadership team with a clear understanding of the organization’s mission and values — and a curiosity to learn about how it all worked.
“It’s been great,” Ropa said. “I had a good handle on what the company did from a high level, but it has been awesome to dig in, roll up my sleeves, and get to know the team and business better.”
Ropa’s transition from board member to CFO allowed her to bring the ELT a wealth of experience in investment banking and real estate, adding a perspective that is grounded in both financial discipline and future-oriented strategy.
“When I think about JE Dunn, we’ve made it 100 years, and now it’s about the next 10, 20, 30 years,” Ropa said. “I can help provide a different lens on what transformation actually looks like, how we approach it, and how we continue to scale this business and set it up for success.”
In her brief time working at JE Dunn, Ropa has already begun focusing on key areas of optimization, exploring ways to support the company’s rapid growth.
“From an optimization standpoint, we’re thinking about technology and working closely with our IT and HR teams to see how core HR and payroll systems can become more efficient,” Ropa said. “It’s exciting to think about how that could help us transform the business and really streamline how we support the core operations of construction.”
Her strong financial background means that Ropa is closely attuned to the larger economic factors that are shaping the construction landscape.
“Interest rates continue to be a really big area of focus,” Ropa said. “Cost of capital and financing is impacting how much commercial developers can build. There are quite a few projects sitting on the sideline right now, waiting for the cost of capital to get better, so they can put shovels in the dirt again.”
But even as some markets are seeing less work, others are thriving.
“We’re seeing incredible investment in digital infrastructure and data centers. That’s been a huge boon to our business over the last several years,” Ropa said. “That incredible growth in Mission Critical is really balancing out some of the quieter activity on the commercial developer front.”
Ropa credits a diverse business model as a key strength in holding strong amid economic fluctuations, citing ongoing ELT discussions dedicated to maintaining steady growth and market resiliency.
“We have regular conversations with the senior leaders of each of the business verticals and regions on what the right business selections are,” Ropa said. “We want to make sure we’re thoughtful when picking the right projects so the business is set to succeed longer-term.”
In joining a 101-year-old company, Ropa said she admires the foundation of values that have guided JE Dunn for decades. With a large workforce full of experience and expertise, she aims to lead the financial side of the business through collaboration and open dialogue.
“It’s definitely not a ‘my way or the highway’ approach,” Ropa said with a laugh. “Everybody has a unique perspective to bring to the table, and it’s important to hear where they’re coming from and how we can continue as a group to be better.”
Ropa’s emphasis on people can be seen in her continued advocacy for women in the workforce. During her investment banking career at UBS, she supported and launched several initiatives that amplified women’s voices in the finance industry. As a JE Dunn board member, her involvement with Moment Connection led her to develop a deeper connection with the women at the company.
“I don’t think I’d be here today if it hadn’t been for my involvement in Moment Connection,” Ropa said. “Getting to meet the women in the field who were doing the work was really special to me. Even though they were in boots and we were in suits, we shared that experience of being the only woman at the table or on the jobsite.”
Since stepping into the role of CFO, Ropa now serves as the executive sponsor for Moment Connection, where she said she hopes to follow in former CFO Beth Soukup’s footsteps of leadership and mentorship for all employees.
For Ropa, one of the most meaningful aspects of JE Dunn is the way the company has built its ownership model around longevity and shared accountability. The employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), she said, strengthens that foundation by giving every employee ownership over the company’s continued growth and success.
“In banking, I often worked with private companies where the first generation built something great, but the next didn’t want to carry it forward,” Ropa said. “To see JE Dunn be a company that’s been family-owned for four generations and now has nearly 30% employee ownership — that’s something really special.”
She said she believes the ESOP structure creates a deeper sense of accountability and pride.
“There’s this ownership culture here,” Ropa said. “Everyone’s motivated not just to grow the business, but to do it sustainably and profitably. The employees all get to participate in the success of the company.”
As JE Dunn moves into its second century, Ropa’s combination of financial expertise, collaborative leadership, and curiosity position her to play a unique role in shaping its future.
“I feel so privileged and honored to be here and have a chance to bring my own perspectives to the table to hopefully make this a better place,” Ropa said. “Now it’s about making sure that we are well positioned for the next 100 years.”
