John R. Lawson, II

President & CEO, WM Jordan Company

Mr. Lawson began his career with W. M. Jordan Company as a Field Engineer in 1975 after graduating from Ferguson High School and Virginia Tech with a BS in Geophysics. He is a 1989 graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Associated General Contractors of America. Under his leadership, W. M. Jordan Company has become the largest general contractor in Virginia, with annual revenues exceeding $360 million dollars and a ranking in Engineering News Record’s Top 400 Contractors in the United States for the past 25 years.

He is married to the former Paige Zemany of Virginia Beach and resides in Newport News with his 11 year old son, Taylor; 10 year old daughter, Tess; and 6 year old son, Jack. In his leisure time, he enjoys boating, college football, golfing, skiing, art and history.

Professional Affiliations:

• Board Member, Hampton Roads Arts Trust
• Vice Rector, Virginia Tech Board of Visitors
• Chairman, Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Buildings & Grounds Committee
• Board Member, Virginia Tech School of Construction
• Board Member, Towne Bank
• World Presidents Organization (WPO)
• Board Member, Future of Hampton Roads
• Board Member, Children’s Health Systems
• Vice Chairman, Mariners’ Museum
• Board Member, James River Country Club
• Chairman, Virginia Kappa Alumni Corporation
• Past President, Associated General Contractors of Virginia
• Past Chairman, Virginia Peninsula Economic Development Council
• Past President, Greater Peninsula NOW
• Advisory Board, Virginia Living Museum

Awards:

• Ernst & Young Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year, 2004
• Lenora Mathews Lifetime Achievement Award from Volunteer Hampton Roads, 2003
• United Way Volunteer of the Year, 1997