Gilbane Building Company, the leading global, family-owned construction management firm, named Adam R. Jelen as the firm’s next chief executive officer, following a deliberate, multi-year succession process. On January 1, 2024, Jelen will succeed Thomas M. Laird, Jr., who will become chairman of Gilbane Building Company.
Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr. will continue as chairman and chief executive officer of Gilbane, Inc., the parent entity of Gilbane Building Company and Gilbane Development Company. Laird will remain focused on supporting Gilbane Building Company executive leaders and enabling company strategy to drive growth and opportunity.
“Gilbane is breaking new ground in project delivery and is poised for continued growth and success,” said Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, Gilbane, Inc. “Adam is a visionary leader who is focused on elevating our clients’ experience and making an impact in the communities in which we build. We look forward to him taking on this leadership role, building on the foundation of Tom Laird’s leadership and continuing to raise the bar on how we build.”
Founded in 1870, Gilbane Building Company is one of the world’s largest, family-owned construction and facilities management firms. Gilbane builds projects in diverse market sectors with 45 offices and more than 3,000 employees worldwide.
“The heart of Gilbane is our people, and our company is filled with the best in the industry,” said Adam R. Jelen. “We have a proven seasoned group of leaders and I feel fortunate to work side-by-side with them to lead this company into the future. I am deeply humbled and honored to assume the role of CEO of our industry-leading, 153-year-old company. I look forward to working with our teams on the next level of safe world-class project delivery and community impact.
In 2022, Jelen was named chief operating officer, responsible for promoting the continued success of Gilbane’s operations, driving regional growth, and ensuring the highest levels of project delivery for clients. Responsible for operations across every division of Gilbane, Jelen has focused on consistent world-class building, client results, industry safety, and promoting and developing talent. Prior to becoming COO, Adam was executive vice president, leading Gilbane’s Midwest and West business operations strengthening the firm’s position in these regions.
An experienced builder who started in the skilled trades, Jelen has a 30-plus-year career in the construction industry. Jelen has led small to expansive projects across the country and around the world, with direct involvement in more than $10 billion in projects during his career. Jelen began his career at Gilbane in 2005, working his way up and learning the company as a project manager, project executive, and district manager. He is recognized as an expert in Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery, and Lean Construction.
Jelen is deeply committed to enhancing safety, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supporting sustainability within Gilbane and throughout the industry. He has focused on advancing the construction industry by inspiring the next generation of builders through mentorship. In addition, he is heavily engaged in the industry and serves as an executive committee member for National Construction Safety Week and was a founding board member of the ACE Mentor Program in Milwaukee, in addition to other positions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction and a Minor in Business Administration from Bradley University and an Associate of Science from Harper College.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com
