Thomas E. Chandler, chief executive officer of Chandler Concrete Co., Inc., will receive the Frank S. Holt Jr. Business Leadership Award during a special luncheon at noon Monday, Nov. 12 in the Woods Center, located at Rhodes Stadium on the Elon campus.
The award was established by Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business to recognize a local citizen whose contributions to business and the community reflect the same progressive, visionary leadership exemplified by the award’s namesake. The late Frank S. Holt Jr. was president of Holt Manufacturing Co. and an active civic leader.
Chandler Concrete has become an industry leader under Chandler’s watch, employing 400 people who operate 25 plants in North Carolina and Virginia. The company provides top-quality concrete, building materials and concrete construction services.
Chandler’s leadership of the family-owned business has championed advances in concrete production since he bought the company in 1973. He implemented new technology which allows the company to monitor its fleet of nearly 200 ready-mix concrete trucks from its corporate headquarters in Burlington, N.C. The company is also pioneering construction of homes and buildings in the Burlington area using insulated concrete forms.
Chandler has served as chairman of the board of directors of the National Ready Mix Concrete Association. He is a member of the board of directors of Alamance Regional Medical Center, is founding director of MidCarolina Bank in Burlington and director of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year in Alamance County in 1999.
A member of the Elon Board of Trustees, Chandler and his wife, Lynn, are former members of the Elon Board of Visitors.