RK FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meet our Board of Directors – their stewardship ensures that many nonprofits and community causes receive the funding they deserve.
Jon L. Kinning
President
Jon L. Kinning is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of RK Industries, LLC (RK), a leading construction, manufacturing, fabrication and building services company based in Colorado. With his entrepreneurial spirit and diverse experience, Jon has played an instrumental role in establishing RK as one of Colorado’s top family-owned businesses and one of the state’s highest-grossing private companies.
Employing over 1,500 people, RK operates multiple facilities across Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, providing unparalleled service to its clients. Jon’s journey with the family business began over 30 years ago, after which he pursued a successful career in real estate. As a Licensed Broker for CB Richard Ellis, Jon honed his skills in the industry before returning to RK in 1996. Upon his return, Jon founded the commercial building services division, now known as RK Service, LLC., expanding the company’s first new business unit.
In addition to his role at RK Industries, Jon serves as the Managing Partner for the family’s real estate holding company that was established in 2000. His commitment to giving back to the community is evident in his position as President of the RK Foundation, founded in 2011 to support nonprofit and public causes in the communities where RK works.
A passionate advocate for education and workforce development, Jon’s community involvement is extensive. He serves on the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, the Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation Board, Colorado Succeeds, and is a member of the Colorado Forum. As a founder and board member of the Green and Gold Foundation, an active member of the Rocky Mountain Gold Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization and an Advisory Board member for the Alliance for Choice in Education (ACE Scholarships), Jon continually demonstrates his dedication to fostering growth and development in his community. He also serves as an Executive Leadership Council member of the Colorado State University – CHHS. Jon is a proud graduate of Leadership Denver 2014.
Jon holds a BSBA with an emphasis in Finance and Real Estate from Colorado State University, an MBA from the University of Denver, and a USBGC LEED AP BD + C accreditation, showcasing his commitment to sustainable building practices.
Residing in both Denver and Vail, Colorado, Jon enjoys a dynamic, active lifestyle that includes golfing, skiing, dirt biking, and traveling. His passion for work, community and the great outdoors reflects the vibrant spirit of RK and its commitment to innovation and excellence.
Rick L. Kinning
Vice President
Rick Kinning is Co-Founder, President, CEO and Chairman of RK Industries, LLC (RK), a family and employee owned diversified commercial and industrial construction, advanced fabrication, manufacturing and building services company based in Denver, Colorado. Having started as a teenager in 1977, this is the only job and profession that Rick has ever had.
RK, originally incorporated in 1985 as RK Mechanical, Inc., has organically grown into seven business units – RK Mechanical, RK Steel, RK Electrical, RK Mission Critical, RK Energy (Oil & Gas, Green Energy), RK Service, RK Electrical, and RK Water. RK is a regional, national and international enterprise that currently employs approximately 1,500 employees. Additionally, Mr. Kinning serves as Vice President and board member of the RK Foundation, having served as its founder and President from its founding in 2011 through early 2016.
Mr. Kinning’s role within the RK organization is executive leadership, corporate vision, overall business strategy, financial business relationships (i.e. banking and surety bonds), business development, and overall cultural leadership of the Company. RK is consistently recognized as one of Colorado’s top three family-owned businesses, along with notable achievements as one of Colorado’s healthiest workplaces, and one of Colorado’s best places to work.
Mr. Kinning is a board member for Cherry Creek Alliance and Assistive Technology Partners – University of Colorado. Additionally, Rick is an Advisory Board member for UMB Bank. Rick is a licensed Master Plumber with active contractor licenses in several States and communities.
Marcee Kinning
Vice President
Marcee Kinning joined the RK Foundation (RKF) in 2015, infusing the foundation’s activities and focus areas with a fresh new perspective. Passionate about giving back to the Rocky Mountain region, she finds energy in the innovative work and development happening in Colorado. Living in a community where many businesses and leaders contribute to making a measurable difference, Marcee considers it a privilege.
Throughout the years, Marcee has volunteered her time and skills to several non-profit and public causes, including food insecurity, hospice care, mental health, and education. Volunteering with many of the organizations RKF supports, she is inspired by the good work being done in Colorado.
Proud to be part of the work RKF is doing, especially in education, workforce development, and mental health in the workplace, Marcee values the ongoing commitment to investing in communities. The hope is that their giving and work will have a lasting impact.
Kohl Kinning
Member
Kohl Kinning joined the Board of Directors of the RK Foundation in 2021. He first began working in the plumbing shop at RK at age 14 and subsequently moved to the office to work in IT. He received an undergraduate degree in Biology from Lewis & Clark College and a master’s degree in Bioinformatics and Applied Genomics from the University of Oregon. He returned to Denver in 2019 and has worked at the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
As a researcher at the Linda Crnic Institute, he has seen—first-hand—the impact of philanthropy on people’s lives by empowering benevolent organizations. The Linda Crnic Institute was initially funded by charitable contributions from a foundation like the RK Foundation and now receives millions annually in grants awarded by governmental grants—making significant impacts in not only Down Syndrome, but sleep apnea, Alzheimer’s disease, congenital heart disease, autism, and more recently COVID-19.
Kohl has seen that properly applied support for an organization in need can produce lasting, impactful, and expansive change. As a result, he is excited to expand his reach and contribute to the core tenants of the RK Foundation—community development, health, and education.