Peter J. Davoren has been leading the Turner Construction Company for more than two decades, serving as President since 2003 and Chief Executive Officer since 2004. He joined Turner in 1978, beginning his journey as a young professional in construction.
Through steady dedication, he rose steadily, becoming Vice President in 1995, Senior Vice President in 2000, and ultimately guiding the company as its CEO and Chairman.
Peter grew up with a passion for building, which led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He brought this training and artistic sensibility into a hands-on career in construction, a path he’s never strayed from.
Rooted in Turner’s Culture
Spending nearly his entire working life at Turner, Peter is deeply rooted in its culture. He has witnessed firsthand the evolution of the company from regional builder to a national and global force. Under his leadership, Turner has grown to operate in 20 countries, support 48 U.S. offices, and deliver over $20 billion in construction annually across about 1,500 projects.
Even as a large organization, Peter has built a reputation for valuing personal relationships, authenticity, and respect in the workplace.
He consistently emphasizes a culture where people can be at their best, where authenticity, dignity, and respect are not just words, but daily values.
To him, leadership is about building more than buildings; it’s about nurturing teams, sparking innovation, and recognizing that every voice deserves to be heard.
Building Global Reach
Turner was founded in New York City in 1902, but under Davoren’s direction, it has expanded well beyond its roots. The company now serves clients across North America, and has strengthened its presence in Europe, Asia, and especially India, where Peter has guided efforts to build meaningful partnerships and local supply chains.
Today, Turner ranks as the largest general contractor in the United States, leading projects in major sectors like healthcare, sports, commercial, aviation, and institutional construction. The company continues to shape iconic skylines and vital infrastructure across the globe.
A Personal Commitment to Diversity and Community
Peter often highlights Turner’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion. Under his leadership, the company has awarded contracts valued at over $14 billion to minority and women-owned businesses, and more than $1 billion annually in recent years. He chairs the ACE Mentor Program, which offers mentoring, internships, and scholarships to high school students interested in careers in architecture, engineering, and construction.
He serves as co-chair of the board for AEC Unites, an industry coalition focused on advancing equity in the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors, especially for Black talent and Black-owned firms. He is also active in the Business Roundtable and exercises influence as a trustee at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Peter believes that construction can be a force for positive change by creating jobs, uplifting local businesses, and building stronger, more inclusive communities.
Innovation through Sustainability and Lean Practices
From early on in his leadership, Peter has pursued innovation in sustainability. Turner has emerged as a leader in green building and has joined global efforts to reduce environmental impact, including climate-focused initiatives to lower greenhouse gas emissions and water use.
He has also encouraged the company’s adoption of lean construction methods to improve efficiency and value. These practices help Turner optimize workflows and minimize waste while delivering high-quality results to clients.
Under his guidance, Turner has also advanced its digital and technical capabilities, including building information modeling and supply-chain innovations, collectively known as Turner Engineering Group and SourceBlue offerings.
Leadership That Listens
What sets Peter apart personally is his belief that leadership is fundamentally about listening. He invests time in understanding team concerns, client needs, and community priorities, believing that the best solutions come from collaboration.
Whether touring a hospital built by Turner or reviewing plans for a new university building, he values the opportunity to speak with on-site staff and local partners. For him, success is not measured merely in square footage or revenue, but in relationships built along the way.
Nearly 50 years into his tenure at Turner, Peter remains focused on the future, on new markets, fresh innovations, and growing his company’s positive impact. He continues pushing Turner to expand into emerging markets like sustainable infrastructure and advanced facilities, especially in global regions like India and Europe.
He remains dedicated to building more than buildings; he builds people, communities, and a vision of construction anchored in values, respect, and inclusion.
Peter Davoren’s personal journey, from a young architecture graduate in Brooklyn to CEO of the nation’s largest builder, is a story of quiet dedication and steady progress. His deep roots at Turner give him a unique perspective: he doesn’t simply run a big company, he nurtures it from the inside out. His leadership blends innovation, community engagement, sustainability, and a genuine respect for people.
In profile, Peter exemplifies a leader whose values run as deep as the foundations his company builds. He sees Turner not just as a business, but as a force for better building of structures, of trust, and of opportunity.
