LAN Associates President Thomas Wighard was among the honorees at the inaugural NJBIZ Executive Excellence Awards. The event was created to recognize New Jersey business leaders in senior-level positions who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, and a commitment to excellence.
Wighard’s professional journey began at the company he now leads. Starting as an intern in 2001, he worked his way up the ranks at LAN through hard work, dedication to his craft, and the embrace of a leadership mindset. He gained insight into the inner workings of both LAN Associates and the architecture and engineering industry through every stage of his career. Promoted to Vice President in 2018 and then to company President in 2023, Thomas has proven himself to be an effective leader. His experience, industry insights, and business acumen uniquely position him to put LAN Associates on a path to growth, and that is exactly what he has achieved.
“Having been with LAN for over 40 years, I have had the privilege of working with Tom from the day he joined us as an intern to the day the board of directors appointed him President,” said LAN CEO Ron Panicucci. “From the start, he displayed an incredible work ethic and has since proved to be a source of wise leadership and decision-making. It comes as no surprise to me that LAN has been more successful than ever under his leadership as President.”
When Wighard took over the role of President, he immediately set ambitious goals for LAN’s continued organic growth and expansion, as defined by several KPIs. The firm’s success under his direction speaks for itself. His first full year as company President saw LAN generate more gross revenue than in any other year in the company’s history. As LAN celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, that number is sure to grow based on the major projects across diverse disciplines and market sectors that LAN has in its pipeline. This is something that Wighard sees as a team accomplishment.
“It's an honor to be recognized by the first-ever NJBIZ Executive Excellence Awards,” said Wighard when asked about the honor. “As President of LAN, I have the privilege of working alongside a talented group of architects and engineers, and my success as a New Jersey business leader and LAN’s success during my time as President would not be possible without their hard work.”
Wighard has always placed a high value on hard work and the importance of a holistic understanding of the various facets of the architecture and engineering industry. Upon taking on the role of company President, Thomas completed the process of becoming a licensed architect, in addition to being a licensed engineer. His goal was to gain a deeper understanding of all aspects of LAN’s mission, enabling him to serve more effectively in his new leadership role. Obtaining a dual license is a rare combination that places Wighard in an elite segment, comprising fewer than 0.5% of all architects and engineering professionals in New Jersey and New York.
In an era defined by rapid turnover and career-hopping, Thomas Wighard chose a different path: committing to one organization and growing within it. This journey was marked by steady progression and long-term dedication to LAN Associates. His success story shows the value of devotion to an industry and a company, and LAN’s success under Thomas shows the value of a company reciprocating its employees’ dedication.
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