Thomas M. Laird, Jr.
Executive Chairman, Gilbane Building Company
Tom is executive chairman of Gilbane Building Company and previously served as president and chief executive officer. With an impressive 39-year tenure at Gilbane, Tom joined Gilbane right out of college and has held various leadership positions throughout his career across multiple regions and service areas nationwide.
Appointed CEO in 2022, Tom has overseen nearly every division in the company throughout his career. Under Tom’s visionary direction, Gilbane has significantly expanded its standing as an industry leader, advancing its commitment to inclusion and belonging, sustainability, and innovation throughout the enterprise. Tom’s unwavering commitment to these values has propelled Gilbane forward as one of the most preeminent global construction companies.
Tom’s previous positions at Gilbane include executive vice president, senior vice president/regional manager of the Central region, district manager in the Cleveland office, and regional manager of business development in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Tom has earned his Master of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Cincinnati.
Tom founded and served as chairman and executive board member for the ACE Mentor Program Cleveland. In 2012, he received the Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Non-Profit Board Executive of the Year; ACE has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to primarily underrepresented students in the Cleveland public schools. He also serves on the Legacy Board of Providence House, a crisis nursery committed to child abuse prevention and family preservation. Tom is also a Greater Cleveland Sports Commission board member and previously served on the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation board.