Joe Ryan’s personal philosophy of always “delivering value” was instrumental in the creation of Oppidan Investment Company in 1991. Oppidan is the Latin word for investing in your city, and that’s exactly what Joe strives to achieve each and every day. Oppidan is the result of years of hard work, recalibration and creativity, all of which makes it unique and dynamic. There is no other company quite like Oppidan and for the past 32 years, “delivering value” has been the key to transforming Oppidan into a national real estate development leader. Joe built a team steeped with experience in development, capital markets, project management, construction management and senior housing operations. Oppidan quickly became the leader you can trust, with the reputation to prove it. Relationships matter to Joe, which is why every Oppidan client has become a repeat client. Oppidan has made its mark in all facets of the commercial development industry, from development to project management. Joe has kept the company laser-focused on key developments, such as Senior Housing, Industrial, Data Centers, Market Rate Apartments, Mixed Use, Affordable Housing and Retail. Its national presence continues to grow with offices in San Jose, CA, and Raleigh, NC. Joe’s leadership is apparent through Oppidan’s success. Joe has led his team in the development of more than 580 projects valued at over $4 billion and spanning 25 million-square feet throughout 41 states and parts of Canada. Oppidan’s impressive client list includes, US Franciscans, Christian Brothers, Oblates Priests and Brothers, Ebenezer, Watermark Retirement Communities, Duluth Trading Company, Northern Tool, Cub Foods, Hornbachers, Coborns, Camping World, Target, Sprouts, GE Oil & Gas, Goodwill, Caliber Collision and multiple global industrial and mission critical clients. Oppidan has evolved and created many institutional and private joint venture partnerships with the nation’s top financial institutions, including Harrison Street and Kayne Anderson, as well as asset managers like Bailard and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Joe also co-founded Oppidan’s sister company, Water Street Partners, in 2017 which invests in real estate opportunities on behalf of its private real estate funds.
Joe has been recognized by his peers with an impressive list of awards including GlobeSt. Best Boss, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine Most Admired CEO, Finance & Commerce Power 30, Twin Cities Business Family Business Award and Twin Cities Business 100 People to Watch His team has been recognized as a GlobeSt. Senior Housing Influencer, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Best Places to Work (three years in a row), Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal CFO of the Year, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business, Twin Cities Business Notable Counsel and Twin Cities Business Notable Women in CRE. Oppidan’s developments have also received top praise, including the Midwest Real Estate Journal Best of the Best list; Minnesota Real Estate Journal Top Urban Senior Housing, Minnesota Shopping Centers Association STARR Award for Best Mixed-Use Project, Gold Nugget Award Grand Award Winner for Best Service Enriched Senior Community and Building Industry Association of Southern California SAGE Award for Best 55+ CCRC/Lite Plan Community on the Boards, Finance & Commerce Top Project and NAIOP Award of Excellence.
Joe makes it a priority to give back to the community, and he encourages his team to give their time and treasure to community organizations. This includes building homes for Habitat for Humanity, fall yard clean-up for Southeast Seniors or creating a top-earning team for the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics. Oppidan developed Pagel Activity Center for the Minnetonka School District and the Victoria Activity Center for the City of Victoria. Through Joe’s leadership, Oppidan supports Not Me self-defense programs, Super Hero for Kids, Touchdown Club, KTJ Endowment Scholarship at the University of St. Thomas and scholarships for the College of Saint Benedict, St. Therese, Children’s Hospital, Park Nicollet, Saint John’s University, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Alumni Association, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Klondike Dog Derby, Gentle Transitions, Camp Tanadoona, Ronald McDonald House, Kowalski’s for Kids, Hockey Day MN, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Excelsior Rotary.
Oppidan is very active in the development in senior living communities, but Oppidan’s involvement doesn’t stop at the bricks and mortar. Joe created and funds the Pillar’s Fund, which is used for memory care programming. To-date, Oppidan has invested $500,000 to the Pillars Fund. Joe is showcasing his extreme passion for helping others and he’s doing what many developers don’t – invest significant amounts of money and resources into the communities they build even after the building is completed. Joe’s also passionate about supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, and his philanthropy is apparent through his involvement in the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement Leadership Society and corporate program, Purple Gala and Hood-to-Coast 200-mile relay run from Mount Hood to Seaside Coast in Portland. Prior to founding Oppidan, Joe was a shareholding partner of REI, Limited, and directed the operations of the Richard Ellis, Inc. office in Minneapolis. Joe was also Vice President of Asset Management at St. Paul Properties, Inc. where he was responsible for office, industrial, retail and apartment properties throughout the United States, with a portfolio valued at nearly $300 million. Joe is a graduate of St. Thomas University where he received both a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Finance.