Meet John Fees

With a career that spans decades with high-level leadership roles, John Fees knows a thing or two about how to grow his community. Whether it is through nuclear operations or economic revitalization, he’s proven himself to be a visionary in community-driven initiatives.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fees earned an engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh before starting his career at BWXT in 1979, which was then known as Babcock & Wilcox.

“I’ve had a variety of roles throughout my career, from managing manufacturing facilities to leading large-scale global operations,” Fees said. “"At the time I retired, we had shipyards all over the world, factories in China, and operations in Dubai, the Middle East, Mexico, the U.S., and Europe. It was a massive operation with around 45,000 direct and indirect employees."

Fees' career trajectory took him from managing government services and manufacturing in Ohio to becoming the CEO of BWXT and later McDermott International.

From 2015 until 2022, Fees served as the chairman of the board of BWXT, the parent company of B&W.

"We had a really great board, exceptional people in all of our operations and great customers. It was about developing and deploying technology to meet their needs and that was where I found a lot of personal satisfaction,” he said.

Under his leadership, he spearheaded key consolidations and restructuring, leading to the creation of BWXT as a standalone powerhouse in nuclear services.

"Our community has been deeply shaped by BWXT and similar organizations. We have many current employees and many retirees here and their contributions have been a considerable influence on the Lynchburg area,” he said.

Fees is also invested in his community having served on the board of the Academy Center of the Arts helping to restore the historic theater.

“If I’m going to get involved in a project, it has to have a significant impact on the community,” Fees said.

He is also the man behind 2204 Bedford Avenue – a former Dr. Pepper Bottling Company.

Fees, his wife, Jill and daughter, Stephanie, worked together as a family to revitalize the 22,000 square-foot building into a hub for several businesses including Truss, Rivermont Refillery, which Jill Fees runs, Scratch Pasta, which Stephanie Fees owns and operates, Rhodora and Flour District.

“The enjoyment comes from seeing families and friends gather, sharing a cup of coffee, or supporting local businesses,” he said. “That’s where I get the enjoyment out of it. I really don't want to go off and do projects building an apartment building or redo houses, I have no interest in that. But if a project comes along that we can get involved in, where we can do something that has a good community benefit, I have a high-level interest.”

Fees’ dedication to Lynchburg extends to healthcare as a member of Centra’s board.

“I want to be part of making our hospital system what it needs to be for the long term,” he said. “We’re working on modernization and new construction projects that will serve the community for decades to come.”

Fees’ long-term commitment to Centra aligns with his overarching theme of ensuring projects have lasting economic and community benefits.

From leading global enterprises to fostering local development, Fees continues to look toward the future. While he’s hinted at expanding redevelopment efforts in Lynchburg, he remains grounded in his purpose: to contribute meaningfully to the community he calls home.