Centerville based Tipton Companies announced on Wednesday the promotion of Eric Tipton to chief operating officer. Tipton has served as vice president of development.

The Tipton Companies consists of the construction and property management firms Tipton Construction, Inc. Tipton Development Ltd. and the Tipton Group, Inc.

Eric currently serves as president of the Tipton Group.

The company has built numerous office parks in the Dayton area including properties along

Success Lane in Centerville and four buildings in the Springboro Office Park. It's also building Fountains Office Park in Cincinnati.

Richard Tipton, Eric's father, founded the company in 1981. Richard will continue work on new business and future developments while Eric will oversee operations.

"I've been groomed to do this since I was 16 or 17," Eric said.