Aaron Thomas Awarded EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Southeast
June 18, 2026
We are thrilled to announce that Aaron Thomas, President and CEO of Metcon, Inc. has been awarded EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2026 Southeast. For more than four decades, the Entrepreneur of The Year® award has recognized audacious, game-changing business leaders. These are entrepreneurs who build bold relentlessly — disrupting industries and driving innovation — while lifting up their employees and communities. That describes Aaron Thomas’s passion and spirit.
As the world’s most prestigious business recognition for entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneur Of The Year award has been at the forefront of identifying game-changing business leaders. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corporation; Eric Yuan of Zoom; Jodi Berg of Vitamix; Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC; and Allison and Stephen Ellsworth of Poppi. We are honored to have Aaron Thomas recognized among so many other ambitious business leaders in Southeast. Learn more about the EY Entrepreneur of The Year Southeast program and follow us along on our journey to the National Awards celebration! ey.com/us/eoysoutheast
ABOUT THE ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESS:
Native American-owned (Lumbee Tribe) Metcon, Inc., was founded in 2000 in Pembroke, NC by Aaron Thomas. Specializing in general contracting, construction management, and design-build services, Metcon is known for its focus on sustainable, high-performance buildings and infrastructure and has built a strong reputation as a leader in higher education and K-12 school construction across the Carolinas as well as other growing market sectors.
Thomas’ journey began not in a boardroom but in the aisles of a family-owned hardware and building supply in Pembroke, NC. His grandfather, Curt Locklear, took it upon himself to instill discipline and ambition early on — encouraging a 10‑year‑old Thomas to build his “life’s plan,” through learning everything about the building industry and serving clients and the community. This blend of accountability and entrepreneurial exposure became the foundation of Thomas’ leadership philosophy.
By 23, he had founded Metcon, short for metal and construction, initially building prefabricated metal panelized wall systems and buildings for housing in Southeastern NC. What began as a small operation would evolve into one of the region’s most dynamic construction firms—today Metcon is a nationally recognized builder of buildings and infrastructure, partnering with public and private clients to deliver projects that strengthen communities and help their clients accomplish their mission. Headquartered in Pembroke, North Carolina, Metcon has grown from a regional contractor into one of the nation’s leading Native American-owned construction companies. Metcon delivers projects throughout the Carolinas and across the United States.
Whether constructing an educational facility, a healthcare facility, a military installation, a sports and entertainment venue, a hospitality destination, a manufacturing facility, a commercial development, or the critical infrastructure that supports growing communities, Metcon brings innovation, collaboration, and disciplined execution to every project.
“The core values that guide Metcon—Excellence Delivered, People First, Integrity Without Compromise, Client Success is Our Success, and Communities Strengthened— EPIC²: has been pivotal in this success. These core values shape the internal culture of our organization but also foster meaningful relationships with clients and positively impact the communities we serve.” says Thomas.
“This award represents so many valuable contributions by Metcon team members’ legacy of hard work, determination, and total commitment to our mission to successfully deliver projects that positively impact our clients, the environment, team members, and the communities in which we live and work.” Aaron Thomas, President & CEO
Regional award winners are eligible for the Entrepreneur of The Year National Awards, presented in November at the Strategic Growth Forum® Follow the celebration and journey to EOY Nationals. ey.com/us/eoysoutheast
#EntrepreneurOfTheYear #EOYSoutheast #EYFinalist #Leadership #BuildingCommunities
For more information on Metcon, Inc. visit our website at https://metconus.com or contact Angela Carter, VP Business Development, Marketing, and Community Partnerships acarter@metconus.com
