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Affirming our Past, Embracing our Future Through Entrepreneurship

January 7, 2021
Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr.
As Gilbane celebrates its 150th anniversary, we reflect on the core values that have guided our growth and inspired our guiding principles. We recognize entrepreneurship as a core value across our companies, Gilbane Building Company and Gilbane Development Company. This entrepreneurial spirit was established through my great-grandfather’s vision when he and his brother founded the company as custom-home builders in Providence, Rhode Island.

The commitment to our core values serves as the foundation of our relationships with our clients, partners, and teams. Our values drive every aspect of our business and have enabled the creation of what is now a global, comprehensive construction and real estate development firm with over 3,000 employees and more than 45 offices worldwide.

Gilbane has persevered through much adversity—two World Wars, the Great Depression, recessions and two pandemics—reinvention is in our DNA. Never willing to rest on past accomplishments and always looking toward the future, we remain resolute in our quest for better outcomes for our teams, our projects and our clients, maintaining an unyielding focus on continual improvement.

Given our history and inherent resilience, we pay tribute to our company’s entrepreneurial origins and reaffirm this spirit which lives on today, as seen through our culture of innovation and tenacity to challenge the status quo. Over the past year, we have been challenging our teams to embrace entrepreneurship and scaled innovation, resulting in significant project efficiencies and the broad use of advanced technologies on our projects and throughout our company.

Entrepreneurship in Action

As drivers of change, Gilbane’s Innovation Council promotes a culture of innovative thinkers by empowering employees to use creative intelligence and promote knowledge-sharing. Teams are encouraged to participate in “innovation challenges” designed to inspire collaboration and solve problems that we may face as a company.

This forward-thinking culture informs us to find better and more thoughtful solutions, be it the practice of starting every meeting with a “Gilbane Cares Moment” to the adoption of Spot-r, an innovative, wearable safety device helping workers stay socially distanced on our jobsites during the pandemic.  Our core values are at the heart of all we do.

Leading with Inclusion

Our teams are further strengthened by their commitment to inclusion and diversity of thought. We know that better outcomes are reached through a culture that enables people to be their authentic selves. It’s why our employees want to work at Gilbane and why our clients choose to work with us. Nearly a third of our employees participate in our six employee resource groups which champion inclusion at Gilbane. To maintain a continuous focus on the pressing issues of social justice and equity, Gilbane has established an Inclusion & Diversity Council, committed to creating a platform promoting awareness and developing pathways for change.

Building on 150 Years

As we embark on the next 150 years and lead with an entrepreneurial spirit, we look forward to the future and what can be accomplished when we come together as a team. Just as my great-grandfather did so many years ago, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating opportunity out of adversity and truly believe that extraordinary things can be accomplished with the right mix of grit and fortitude.



About Authors
Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr. is chairman and chief executive officer of Gilbane, Inc. and chairman of Gilbane Building Company. He is the seventh family member to lead the company since its start in 1870. He is committed to aligning the organization’s strategies and goals in collaboration with the Board of Directors while promoting the company’s continued growth. He is credited with being a driving force behind Gilbane Building Company’s expansion beyond the U.S. domestic market.
Read more posts by Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr.

One Reply to “Affirming our Past, Embracing our Future Through Entrepreneurship”

  1. Marcus Partlow
    • January 8, 2021

    Good morning Mr. Gilbane,
    It is an honor to work for you and GBCO! My life-long friend, Steve Stenersen, CEO USLacrosse, is also very thankful for your support and guidance with their Board of Directors!
    Happy 2021!!
    With Best Regards,
    Marcus Partlow

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