Jon G. Ward ’94

Jon Ward is the chief executive officer of Ward Vessel and Exchanger, an ASME Code pressure vessel and heat exchanger fabrication company with facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Houston, Texas. Founded in 1982, the family-owned company has earned a reputation for specialty alloy fabrication and serves customers across a range of industrial sectors. Under Jon’s leadership, Ward Vessel and Exchanger has built a culture centered on operational excellence, mentorship and developing the next generation of manufacturing leaders.

A 1994 graduate of UNC Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, Jon has maintained a longstanding commitment to his alma mater. He serves on the William States Lee College of Engineering Industry Advisory Board, and Ward Vessel and Exchanger is an active partner of the college’s Super Fab Lab, supporting hands-on learning and workforce development opportunities for engineering students. He also received an Outstanding Alumni Award from the college and was elected to the UNC Charlotte Foundation Board.

Beyond his leadership at Ward Vessel and Exchanger, Jon is an advocate for American manufacturing and an active contributor to the industry. He is involved with the Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association (STI/SPFA), serves on multiple corporate boards and hosts Forged in Focus, a podcast exploring the future of manufacturing through conversations with industry leaders, engineers and innovators.

Jon and his wife, Shannon, live in the Charlotte area and have two sons. He joined the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees in 2026.