Over nearly four decades, John R. Lawson II has made a lasting impression on mid-Atlantic construction—through his accomplishments at the helm of contractor W.M. Jordan Co. and his long-standing philanthropic efforts and advocacy for education.
Since purchasing the Newport News, Va.-based general contractor with his father in 1985, Lawson, now W.M. Jordan's president and chief executive officer, has seen its annual revenue rise to $400 million, from $25 million. The company, which focuses mostly on the buildings sector, ranked 19th on ENR MidAtlantic's 2014 Top Contractors list and No. 174 among ENR's 2014 Top 400 Contractors.