Ralph grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah, working alongside his father, an engineer. From a young age, he learned the value of hard work and the importance of family. At 16, Ralph began working in the construction industry, gradually advancing and using his earnings to fund his education at BYU. In 1982, Ralph met Kristine Black, and they married the following year. After earning his degree in engineering from BYU, Ralph worked as an aerospace engineer for Boeing in Seattle from 1987 to 1989.

In 1989, Ralph moved back to Spanish Fork and took a position at Teleflex Defense Systems. Over time, he worked his way up and eventually became the Operations Manager. His role took him overseas to Taiwan and Germany, where he gained valuable international experience. When Teleflex was sold, the company offered Ralph the opportunity to relocate to Pennsylvania, but he chose to stay in Utah to keep his family's roots close to home.

In 2000, Ralph and Kristine founded Ridgeline Development Inc. alongside three other businesses. Ridgeline focused on municipal, commercial, and residential projects, allowing Ralph to leverage his engineering background and entrepreneurial spirit. The company quickly grew and gained a reputation for completing successful projects.

Since its inception, Ridgeline has remained centered on family. Ralph’s five children have all worked at Ridgeline during their youth, taking on tasks like vacuuming sawdust, picking up nails, framing basements, filing paperwork, and operating heavy equipment. Through these experiences, Ralph instilled in them the same strong work ethic he learned growing up. To this day, Ridgeline continues to be owned and operated by the Calder family.