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Linda Rabbitt

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Linda Rabbitt is an American entrepreneur based in Washington metropolitan area. She is the founder and chairperson of Rand construction corporation (Rand**).[1] According to The Washington Post, she is one of the most influential people in Washington area business.[2]

Early life and education

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Rabbitt was born in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan,[3] and grew up in Grosse Pointe Woods and Bloomfield Hills. Her father immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1925 and worked in the automotive industry,[4] and her mother was the daughter of Italian immigrants.[5]

In 1970, Rabbitt graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in social studies and a minor in education.[6][4] In 1972, she earned a master's degree in education from the George Washington University (GWU).[7][8]

Career

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After graduating from GWU, Rabbitt taught history and English in Fairfax County, Virginia.[2] In 1981, she joined the accounting firm Peat Marwick (now part of KPMG since 1987) as secretary.[9][4] Later, she was promoted to marketing director.[3]

In 1985, Rabbitt co-founded Hart Construction with Sherry Turner, a marketer at an architectural firm.[10][2][11] Rabbitt left Hart in 1989.[2]

In July 1989, Rabbitt co-founded Rand construction corporation with Mark Anderson, a construction manager.[3] As of 2024, she has served as the company's chairperson and the major shareholder.[12]

In 2016, Rabbitt and Rand company were the subject of Harvard Business School case study.[5]

Affiliations

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From 1993-2001, and since 2018, Rabbitt has served on the board of directors of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., a nonprofit organization of local business leaders. She is the longest-serving director in the club's history, and in 2022, she received the inaugural Arne M. Sorenson Excellence in Leadership Award.[13]

Rabbitt served on the board of Willis Towers Watson when the company was Towers Watson, and, before that, Watson Wyatt.[14][15][16]

In 2009, Rabbitt joined the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.[17] From 2010-2012, she served as deputy chair.[18][19][20] From 2013-2014, she served as chair.[21][22]

As of 2024, Rabbitt serves as a trustee emeritus of the George Washington University and on the board of directors of Children's National Medical Center.[7][23]

Rabbitt has also been active in local business organizations. She's served on the boards of what, according to The Washington Post, are "generally regarded as the area's two most influential business groups": the Federal City Council and the Greater Washington Board of Trade.[3] She chaired the Council from 2010-2012 and the Trade Board in 2002.[24][25]

She is a past president of the Washington chapters of Commercial Real Estate Women[3] and the International Women's Forum.[2]

Philanthropy

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In 2003, Rabbitt had Rand build the offices of the National Breast Cancer Coalition pro bono.[26]

In 2012, Rabbitt financed an executive education program at George Washington University, "On the Board," to teach women how to be corporate board members.[4][27]

Personal life

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Rabbitt was married in 1975, and later had two daughters. The marriage ended in divorce in 1980.[4][27]

In 1990, she married John "Jake" Whalen.[28] They live in Bethesda, Maryland.[29]

In 2000, Rabbitt was diagnosed with breast cancer,[30] which was treated with several surgeries and chemotherapy.[31]

References

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  1. ^ Brendel, Dan (5 December 2023). "CEO of Rand Construction to step down as new executive team takes the helm". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Irwin, Neil (17 February 2002). "Ambition Networked". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Haggerty, Maryann (15 March 1998). "Building a Presence at Rand Construction". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Rabbitt, Linda (11 May 2013). "Neither Teacher Nor Nurse". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b Groysberg, Boris (February 2016). "Linda Rabbitt at rand* construction". Harvard Business School. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  6. ^ Kaplan, Peter (16–22 December 1994). "In a hard-hat world, she's a success by anyone's standards". Washington Business Journal. p. 18.
  7. ^ a b "Emeriti". The George Washington University. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Living Legends: Linda Rabbitt". Virginia Business. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. ^ Richter, Paul (4 September 1986). "Merger to Create World's Biggest Accounting Firm : Parent Firms of Peat Marwick and KMG Main Hurdman Reach an Agreement; Would Surpass Arthur Andersen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  10. ^ Buckley, Bruce (16 February 2022). "'Tough, But Fair' Founder Builds Trust". Engineering News-Record. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Linda D. Rabbitt". Horatio Alger Association. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  12. ^ Sernovitz, Daniel (15 January 2019). "Rand founder Linda Rabbitt steps down as CEO". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  13. ^ "The Arne M. Sorenson Excellence in Leadership Awards". The Economic Club of Washington DC. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  14. ^ Duhring, Nicole (24 February 2012). "Outstanding Directors Awards 2012: Linda Rabbitt". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  15. ^ "NACD Honors Towers Watson Lead Outside Director Linda Rabbitt". Business Wire. CNBC. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  16. ^ "SCHEDULE 14A". United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  17. ^ "People: New chair at Richmond Fed; Norwegian takes executive directorship at IMF". Central Banking. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Board announces appointment of the chairs and deputy chairs of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks for 2011". Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  19. ^ "2011 Annual Report, Boards of Directors and Advisory Councils" (PDF). Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  20. ^ "2012 Annual Report, Boards of Directors and Advisory Councils" (PDF). Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Federal Reserve Board announces appointment of the chairs and deputy chairs of the Federal Reserve Banks for 2013". Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Federal Reserve Board announces appointment of the chairs and deputy chairs of the Federal Reserve Banks for 2014". Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Boards of Directors". Children's National. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Our History". Federal City Council. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  25. ^ Milk, Leslie (1 January 2023). "Washingtonians Of The Year 2003". Washingtonian. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  26. ^ Milk, Leslie (1 January 2003). "Washingtonians Of The Year 2003". Washingtonian. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  27. ^ a b Olson, Elizabeth (24 October 2013). "Focused Effort to Narrow the Gender Gap on Corporate Boards". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  28. ^ Stott, Rob (Spring 2023). "Gentlemen Jake". La Salle College High School. Explorer. p. 10. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  29. ^ "People". The Connection. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  30. ^ Milk, Leslie (1 January 2003). "Washingtonians Of The Year 2003". Washingtonian. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  31. ^ Buckley, Bruce (16 February 2022). "'Tough, But Fair' Founder Builds Trust". Engineering News-Record. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
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