Lawrence Melton Named Greater Washington GovCon Awards Executive of the Year Finalist for Second Consecutive Year

Recognition reflects leadership, industry contributions, and commitment to building a purpose-driven organization.

Leesburg, Va. | September 1, 2026 – Lawrence A. Melton, CEO & President of The Building People, has been named a finalist for Executive of the Year in the $75 million to $300 million category for the 2026 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards^®. This marks the second consecutive year he has been recognized as a finalist for one of the region’s leading government contracting honors.

Presented by the Northern Virginia Chamber (NVC), the Executive of the Year award recognizes Greater Washington-area leaders who have made outstanding contributions to their companies, communities, and the government contracting industry during the past year.

“It is a huge honor to be on the list again this year alongside a handful of incredible leaders,” said Melton. “When I set out to build this company, it has never been about one person. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, especially through a year that tested us, and am incredibly grateful for the people who continue to believe in what we’re building together.”

Melton founded The Building People in 2013 with a vision for bringing technology, buildings, and people together to help organizations improve how their facilities and portfolios perform into the future. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a nationwide organization supporting complex public- and private-sector environments.
Throughout that growth, Melton has remained focused on building a company where strong performance and a genuine commitment to people go hand in hand. His accessible leadership style, transparent communication, and emphasis on shared purpose help employees understand the company’s direction and the value of their individual contributions.

This people-centered approach shapes how The Building People serves its customers. Melton’s experience across government, commercial real estate, facility operations, and smart building technology has helped the company develop practical, integrated solutions that improve operations, support better decisions, and advance customer missions.

His leadership also extends into the community. Melton established The Building People’s philanthropic Heart & Hands program, which, through partnerships, giving back, gratitude, and mentoring, supports disability inclusion, mental health advocacy, workforce opportunities, and other community needs throughout the year.

Before founding The Building People, Melton served as Assistant Commissioner at the U.S. General Services Administration, where he helped oversee one of the nation’s largest real estate portfolios. His understanding of both public-sector needs and commercial real estate continues to inform The Building People’s work and his broader contributions to the government contracting industry.

Winners of the 2026 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards will be announced on November 5, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, VA.

About the Building People

The Building People delivers integrated solutions that combine smart building technology, real estate strategy, full-lifecycle facilities operations services, integrated workforce and workplace design. We transform organizations and portfolios using real-time data, automation, and AI to optimize performance, reduce costs, and extend asset life. Whether supporting a single building or an enterprise portfolio, we tailor every solution to meet client-specific needs, helping create spaces that are agile, innovative, sustainable, and built for long-term success. Learn more at https://thebuildingpeople.com.