Early Life and Education
John Fish was born and raised in Hingham, Massachusetts. He attended Tabor Academy and later graduated from Bowdoin College in 1982 with a degree in political science. Fish was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Curry College in 2019.
Rise to Success
After college, Fish started his career working for Peabody Construction, his father's company. In 1982, at the age of 23, Fish and his father founded Suffolk Construction Company. Fish bought out his father's stake in 2006. Under his leadership, Suffolk grew into a national construction firm, responsible for major projects such as Boston's Millennium Tower and Encore Boston Harbor. As of 2024, Suffolk's revenue reached $6 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Fish has emphasized technological innovation, investing heavily in robotics and AI to enhance construction efficiency. He created a "No Fault Culture" to encourage employees to take risks. Suffolk has focused on embracing disruptive technologies and data-driven decision-making.
Philanthropy
Fish founded Boston Scholar Athletes in 2009 and donated $6 million to the program between 2009 and 2021. He has also donated to Brigham and Women's Hospital's "Life. Giving. Breakthroughs" campaign and has provided scholarships for multiple children to attend Tabor Academy. Fish is committed to philanthropic endeavors focused on creating opportunities for young people and received the Lewis Family Foundation “CEO Social Leadership Award” for his commitment to inner city children.