« I like working in real estate because … you can touch and feel what we create, and everyone can see what we do. » Rick Collins, vice president of development, Ryan Cos.

About Collins: Point person on $400 million Downtown East mixed-use development in downtown Minneapolis. He has been in commercial real estate for nearly 29 years, working with Trammell Crow Co., United Properties, Welsh Cos., before joining Minneapolis-based Ryan in 1999. At Ryan, he has led several high-profile projects, including the Grain Belt Brewhouse, River Parkway Place (home to marketing firm Padilla Speer Beardsley) and Midtown Global Market.

Personal file: A native of Green Bay, Wis., Collins attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a CPA and at IBM before beginning his real estate career. He has a wife of nearly 30 years, Anne, and two grown children, Elizabeth and Emily. He is active in various charities and industry groups. He's an "active Packers and Badgers" fan.

What's big in 2014: Getting final approvals and negotiate final documents for the Downtown East project, which includes two office towers, up to 400 residential units, retail, a parking ramp and a park. Groundbreaking is expected this April.

Final word: "I'm grateful to be part of a highly skilled, high-performing team at Ryan. The results we achieve are very tangible. They help to change and improve a community and create a legacy for all."

Janet Moore