Leadership

John assumed the role of Executive Chairman of the Thompson Holdings Board of Directors in January 2025. Before that, John served as CEO of Thompson Holdings (2017-2024) and CEO of Thompson Engineering (2017-2023).

John considers creating a culture of ownership at the Thompson companies as one of his greatest leadership accomplishments, the results of which led to some of the company’s most profitable years.

As CEO, John executed the company’s vision and oversaw the development and implementation of the strategic plans and financial goals of the organization. John also served Thompson Engineering as President for 13 years. Before his role as President, John was Senior Vice-President of Thompson’s Water Resources Division, where he was responsible for the overall growth and development of the company’s marine design and waterfront development efforts.

John earned his DBIA professional certification in 2017 following decades of experience with integrated project delivery. John is responsible for selecting design-build partners and overseeing the delivery of design-build solutions.

John joined Thompson Engineering in July 1991 after beginning his career with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

John is active in many professional organizations and civic groups. He currently serves as a director on the board of Branch. Former board involvement includes the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Alabama, where he served as Chairman in 2020 and 2021. John devotes much of his time to the Board of Directors for Infirmary Health Systems in Mobile and Thomas Hospital in Fairhope. Previous service includes Board of Directors for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Governor’s Coastal Recovery Commission, and Board of Directors for the Alabama Council of Engineering Companies.

Chad R. Brown serves as CEO of Thompson Holdings, which provides ESOP strategy, governance, and business services to its subsidiaries. Chad joined Thompson in 2002 and most recently served as Chief Legal Officer prior to becoming CEO on January 1, 2025.

In addition to serving as CEO, Chad serves on the boards of Thompson Holdings and three subsidiary companies and leads the firm’s M&A committee. He also serves as Chairman of the Thompson Holdings Foundation, formed in 2003 to provide grants to non-profits in the areas where Thompson employees live and work.

Chad is active in the community through several professional and civic organizations. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors and is the State Associate Vice President of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Alabama and he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Feeding the Gulf Coast.

Thompson Holdings is 100% employee owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Chad is keenly focused on strategic growth and creating opportunities for entrepreneurial employee owners. He is also committed to embracing innovation with investments in emerging technology, empowering employees, and delivering strong ESOP performance.

Chad has nearly 25 years of professional experience and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Birmingham Southern and a law degree from the University of Alabama.

Chad is active in several professional and civic organizations, including the Alabama Association of General Contractors and its Mobile Chapter and Feeding the Gulf Coast.

As Chief Revenue Officer/President of Thompson Engineering, Mike leads a multi-disciplined group serving clients in the federal, industrial, state/local government, and commercial markets. He is also responsible for the company’s business development and client service functions, as well as Program Management for Thompson Engineering’s Corps of Engineers Construction Management Services (CMS) contracts. Day-to-day duties include facilitating the company’s sales effort and managing the proposal management requirements for all markets.

Since joining Thompson Engineering in 1997, Mike has served as a Board Member, Senior Vice President, Director of Business Development and Senior Project Manager. His leadership has included the development of two primary business lines – providing AE design and construction management for military construction and disaster recovery.

Mike’s resume includes experience with 250 projects valued at $75 million in revenue and $2 billion in construction costs across six Southeastern states, seven Latin American countries, and Puerto Rico.

Mike joined Thompson Engineering in 1997 as Director of Business Development. He earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Auburn University in 1988.

Nate Counsell is Vice-President of Thompson Consulting Services, a Thompson Holdings subsidiary company providing disaster recovery services.

Nate manages the business operations of Thompson Consulting Services, which includes the execution of disaster management standard operating procedures, business planning, strategic growth, and tactical execution of TCS’s long term initiatives. In addition, Nate assists with business development, diversification efforts, and strategic initiatives. Nate co-founded Thompson Consulting Services in 2011 with President Jon Hoyle. The company has grown to be a nationally recognized market leader.

Nate has extensive experience growing and cultivating businesses in the disaster recovery industry. During this time, he has had the opportunity to participate in some of the largest disaster recovery programs in modern history, including the historic hurricane seasons of 2004, 2005, and 2017; the New Orleans demolition and long-term recovery programs following Hurricane Katrina; and several other complex, large-scale recovery efforts across the United States in response to fires, tornados, ice storms, and floods.

Nate earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Rollins College and a Masters of Business Administration from Crummer Graduate School of Business.

Ron Oakley is a construction and engineering industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience in strategy, sales, marketing, and operations. Ron served in leadership positions of companies including M+W, The Shaw Group, Skanska, and Fluor.

Ron spent 24 years at Fluor, first joining the company’s project controls department. He later became the operating group executive at Fluor responsible for a variety of business sectors, including industrial, infrastructure and government. Under his leadership, the Fluor Infrastructure Group grew from a $20 million-per-year services business to one of the largest infrastructure development companies in the world, delivering projects like the E470 Toll Road in Denver, the South Carolina Conway By-Pass and the Texas SH130 highways as well as the London Underground Connect PFI and the Netherlands High Speed Train.

Ron is a proud Clemson University graduate with a degree in Building Construction.
He joined the Thompson Holdings Board of Directors in 2018.

Ron Ewing is the former CEO of Dewberry Companies. During his tenure, Ron was successful in acquiring and transitioning three companies under the Dewberry umbrella and growing the firm to include more than 2,200 employees in 45 offices throughout the US with annual revenues in excess of $300 million.

Ron has more than 40 years of experience in the engineering professional services industry serving both the public and private sectors. His career and experience includes land surveying, general civil engineering, environmental engineering, and geospatial applications.

Ron currently runs his own consulting firm focusing on change management in the professional arena.

Ron joined the Thompson Board of Directors in 2014.

Andy Newton joined the Thompson Holdings Board of Directors in 2024. His resume includes roles as President of Uniti Fiber where he stewarded the company’s vision to be the preeminent provider of fiber-infrastructure solutions in the U.S. Under Andy’s leadership, Uniti Fiber provides critical communications infrastructure to a wide variety of customers across the country. Andy is passionate about investing in people and the community at large, creating a company culture where every team member feels empowered to provide innovative solutions that result in an excellent customer experience.

Previously, Andy was the co-founder of Southern Light, and for 19 years served as its President and CEO. During that time, Andy led the operations, strategic guidance and culture of the company. Under his direction, Southern Light grew to become one of the top 10 largest fiber-optic providers in the country. In the 2015 and 2016 listings of Fortune magazine’s, “Great Place To Work” survey, Southern Light was ranked the 52nd “Best Medium-Sized Workplace” and 51st “Best Workplace for Women” in the country.

Andy received an Economics degree from Birmingham-Southern College and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. He has also served on the boards of UMS-Wright Preparatory School, Alabama School of Math and Science, and University of South Alabama Mitchell School of Business.