John Rooney is the New York Area Director of Community Impact for Gilbane Building Company, where he works to strengthen small and emerging businesses in the construction industry, connect them to opportunities across Gilbane’s project portfolio, and advance the company’s workforce development strategy in the region. A 17-year industry veteran who prioritizes impact over optics, John has been instrumental in the national commitments that established Gilbane as an industry leader in this space—including company-wide participation goals for small and local businesses and a pledge to award $4 billion to such businesses over the five years ending in 2026—which the company met more than a year ahead of schedule.

His expertise spans both sides of the table: seven years in a regulatory role at New York City Economic Development Corporation, holding the city’s builders accountable to economic inclusion goals, followed by eight years on the implementation side, applying the lessons of what works and what doesn’t to inform execution and establish this work as a competitive advantage and a core part of how business gets done. He is the author of Inclusive Building, a practical guide for maximizing local community and economic impact through the construction process.

John serves on the board of BOC Capital Corp., a nonprofit lender to small businesses, and is a Coro Leadership New York Fellow. He holds an MBA from Yale School of Management and a B.S. in Financial Economics from Binghamton University and has been recognized as one of City & State’s Real Estate & Construction 40 Under 40 and one of Crain’s New York’s Notable LGBTQ Leaders.