Ryan Odendahl ’97, ’00 Named to UF Board of Trustees

A new member has joined the University of Findlay’s Board of Trustees: Ryan Odendahl ’97 and MBA ’00, who is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Kwest Group in Perrysburg.

“Ryan cares deeply about the success of the University of Findlay and our students,” UF President Katherine Fell, Ph.D., said. “With his professional accomplishments, he will provide guidance to our campus leadership team and strengthen our efforts in preparing new generations of students for meaningful lives and productive careers.”

Odendahl followed his father’s and brother’s footsteps into the Marines, serving as an infantry small arms specialist. Among his posts, he was appointed to the inspector-instructor staff with the Weapons Company, 1^st Battalion, 24^th Marine Regiment, and was named the regiment’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

After eight years of military service, he attended the University of Findlay, earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental and hazardous materials management and then a master’s of business administration.

“I am honored and excited to join the University of Findlay Board of Trustees,” Odendahl said. “UF provided a wonderful start to my career, and as a veteran student, the flexibility and personal approach were invaluable in allowing me to earn my degree while serving and working full time. The coursework was both practical and purposeful, preparing me to transition into my chosen field.”

Odendahl is the CEO of Kwest Group, a civil construction firm founded in 2003 in Port Clinton. Kwest performs projects for a multitude of clients in the energy, petrochemical, industrial, rail, environmental, federal, transportation, and airfield markets. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a small local contractor to a nationwide firm with 420 employees constructing projects across the United States and the Caribbean.

Odendahl and his wife, Andrea, who live in Port Clinton, have generously donated to the Findlay Fund and the Veterans Honor Wall. He served as the guest speaker for the University’s Veterans Day celebration in November 2022.

“I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience I have gained throughout my career to help guide UF into the future,” he noted. “I strongly believe that by continuing to uphold the same values that originally drew me to UF, the institution will remain highly successful in its commitment to develop successful leaders.”