Thomas F. Gilbane Jr. | Chairman and CEO, Gilbane Inc.
1. Now that you are planning to retire in December, what have you been most proud of accomplishing as chairman and CEO of Gilbane? There is so much to reflect on and be proud of over my 54 years here. … What I am perhaps most proud of though – and what I remain excited about for the team that carries on this work – is our depth of expertise. From advanced manufacturing and technology to world-class hospitals and schools, to public-private partnerships, Gilbane is contributing to some of the most complex and important projects around the world. It’s an honor to be associated with that work.
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2. Is there anything that you hoped to accomplish but didn’t? At the end of the day, I’m a builder. I love the thrill of a jobsite and the uniqueness of every project. We now have more than 3,300 employees and 45 offices, have expanded internationally and have an annual revenue of more than $7 billion. I’ve made it to many of our projects and wish I could travel to every single one to talk with our incredible teams and personally thank them for their outstanding work.
3. How would you describe Gilbane’s workplace culture? I would describe it as caring and collaborative. Gilbane is family-owned and that sets the tone for the entire company. Gilbane truly cares about its people like a business family, and, in turn, we care about the communities we live and work in. When I talk with our teams from Providence to Cleveland to San Jose, our culture of caring and making a difference at work and outside work is what comes up about what makes Gilbane different.
4. What aspects of Gilbane have contributed to its growth as one of the largest construction and real estate development firms? Critical to our growth has been our reputation for performance with past clients; our expertise in selected market types; our willingness to take on complex, very large projects; and most importantly, the experienced personnel available to staff the projects. It is a people business, and we have been able to develop and attract among the best in the industry.
5. What does it mean to be passing the company to another member of the Gilbane family? Family aside, Ed Broderick is the right person to continue to move us forward. He is a smart and talented leader who has spent his career with Gilbane in both the construction and development entities. Through every transition at Gilbane, our company has looked to create a brighter future for our employees and the communities where we work and live.
Correction: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect timeframe for Thomas Gilbane Jr.’s retirement. He will be stepping down in December.
