From Startup to Regional Powerhouse: RNGD Featured in Biz New Orleans Cover Story
Eight-Page Feature Showcases Company’s Journey, Distinctive Culture, and New Headquarters Campus
RNGD has been featured as the cover story in Biz New Orleans Magazine’s July 2025 issue. The eight-page article highlights the company’s journey “from startup to regional powerhouse,” including its new $25 million Jefferson Parish headquarters that connects all New Orleans-based team members on a single campus.
The feature also showcases the distinctive “Renegade culture” that drives RNGD’s approach to construction as the company invests in its people and challenges industry conventions.
Building a Culture of Ownership and Growth
“RNGD’s always been a place where if you take ownership and get results, you’ll grow,” said Steel Operations Leader Tramel Smith, who joined the company as superintendent in 2015. “That’s what kept me moving forward.”
The article emphasizes how the new campus serves as a central hub that enables teams to collaborate more efficiently than ever while also housing Renegade Academy, RNGD’s award-winning training and leadership development program. This state-of-the-art training environment expands opportunities for developing employees at every level of the organization.
Beyond Technical Training
“We’re not teaching how to swing a hammer,” said RNGD Chief Operating Officer Nick Moldaner in the story. “We’re teaching how to think, lead, and continually improve.”
For Project Engineer De’Jon Collier, who joined the company in 2014, Renegade Academy opened immediate growth opportunities. “The Leadership Lab has been instrumental in enhancing my leadership skills,” he said. “At RNGD, I feel like there are no limits to responsibility or tasks that I am allowed to manage due to my title.”
The piece also features perspectives from other team members, including Prefab Design Manager Julia Hodgins, who was drawn to RNGD’s integrated approach to design and construction. “RNGD has a diverse group of team members, from many different professional backgrounds,” she noted, “all working toward a unified project delivery.”
Challenging Industry Norms
As the article summarizes: “What started in 2013 as a scrappy startup looking to challenge construction norms has grown into one of the Gulf South’s fastest-rising construction firms. …But even then, the ambition was clear: challenge the industry’s traditional playbook by moving at an unconventionally fast pace.”
The feature was produced by Biz New Orleans staff, including Editor Kim Singletary, Writer Sam Hindman, and Photographer Edmund Fountain.
The full article and photos are available at Biz New Orleans.
