Our Team

Ryan A. Ruskay

President

Mr. Ruskay has more than 16 years of extensive experience in the evaluation and management of various state and federal funding programs, obtaining $185 million dollars in the past nine years. He has worked with a wide range of local governments to find and obtain the funding necessary to make their capital projects a success. His projects consistently place in the top percentages of funding programs on the local, state and federal level. Mr. Ruskay’s experience includes obtaining funding for land acquisition, transportation projects, cultural facilities and public safety projects. In addition to assisting local communities throughout the state in obtaining funding for capital projects, Mr. Ruskay and the staff at RMPK Funding have developed Capital Improvement and Strategic Funding Plans for many of their clients.

Beginning his career with the State of Florida, Mr. Ruskay managed such programs as the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program and the Florida Boating Improvement Program. Besides acting as Project Manager for hundreds of projects across the entire state, he has been actively involved in the evaluation and selection of State and Federal grant applications. This experience, combined with his relationships with many key funding coordinators on the local, state, and federal level, will ensure that the clients of the RMPK Funding have the best opportunity to receive funding.

Activities related to the management of local, state andfederal funding programs:

• Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program, Project Manager
• Land and Water Conservation Fund, Program Manager
• Recreational Trails Program, Project Manager
• Florida Boating Improvement Program, Program Manager
• Department of Environmental Protection’s Legislative Line Item Program, Project Manger
• Corzo, Castalla, Carballo, Thompson, Salman, P.A., Coral Gables, Florida, Funding Director

Municipal Projects Funded

• Emergency Facilities Park
• Land Acquisition Park
• Facilities Recreation Grants
• Social Services Stormwater
• Improvements Sanitary Sewer
• Systems Street & Drainage
• Projects State Revolving Fund
• Loans Cultural Facilities
• Historic Preservation
• Hurricane Mitigation Urban
• Reforestation Community
• Development Block Grants

Activities related to the evaluation of local, state and federal funding programs:

• 1998 - 1999 National Recreation Trails Program Council Member - Evaluated NRTPC applications and prioritized projects for funding. Funding originated from the federal government and was administered by the State.
• 1999 - 2001 FRDAP Evaluation Team Member - Participated in the evaluation of FRDAP applications. The Team determined scores for each project which resulted in a priority list that was presented to the Florida Legislature.
• Development of Capital Improvement Plans for the City of Oviedo, Town of Hypoluxo and the City of Key Colony Beach
• Development of Strategic Funding Plans for the Town of Bay Harbor Islands, Town of Jupiter, New Smyrna Beach CRA, City of Cocoa Beach CRA and City of Doral, City of Lenexa, Buckhead Greenspace Action Plan

Featured Speaker - Lectures on planning and obtaining funds for capital projects:

• Florida Finance Officers Association
• Florida Recreation and Parks
• Association Florida League of Cities
• Florida Association of Special Districts
• Florida Engineering Society

Education

• Bachelor of Science, Political Science
  Florida State University

Joseph W. Dawson

Grant Manager

Mr. Dawson works closely with our clients to prepare funding proposals and assist with post-award management services. He has experience in obtaining a wide variety of funds in all areas of governmental projects including cultural facility development, land acquisition, stormwater and infrastructure development. He also prepares “Funding Opportunities,” a publication created for our clients outlining grant news and upcoming funding sources.

Mr. Dawson has extensive experience in capital projects with over 20 years of construction management experience. This experience lends to his ability to assist our clients in developing successful proposals and better enables them to present a clear, concise and effective message to state and local officials.

Experience in the preparation of funding proposals includes the following programs:

Experience in the management of the following programs includes the preparation of state and federal forms for status reports, reimbursement requests and project completion certifications:

• Section 319 Non-Point Pollution Program
• Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program
• Recreational Trails Program
• Cultural Facility Grant Program
• Land and Water Conservation Fund
• Cultural Facilities Program
• Coastal Management Grants
• Division of Forestry Programs
• Florida Communities Trust