Gareth Vaughan Named Notable Immigrant Leader

Judy Stringer, Crain's 

United Kingdom native Gareth Vaughan has lived in the States for more than 30 years, where he has built a prominent career in the construction industry. 

Vaughan, who holds civil engineering degrees from Nottingham Trent University and the University of Cincinnati, joined AMHigley in 2001 as a regional manager. He was elected president in 2010 and named CEO in 2017.

Under Vaughan’s leadership, AMHigley has more than doubled in employee count, office locations and annual revenues, according to the nomination. He also implemented the company’s diversity and inclusion initiative, which now includes an academic scholarship with the University of Akron to focus on the recruitment of diverse intern candidates, with potential full-time employment after graduation. 

As a parent of children with vision issues, Vaughan is actively involved outside of the office with the Ohio affiliate of Prevent Blindness. In March, the organization awarded him the 2022 People of Vision Award “for his visionary leadership and community service.” Among his other community engagements, Vaughan is chair of the MetroHealth Foundation board of directors, a member of boards at the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Commission on Economic Inclusion and the Burning River Foundation, and a past chair of City Year Cleveland and Providence House.