DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc. has earned a ranking on Louisiana State University's 2026 LSU100 list of fastest growing LSU graduate owned or led companies. In addition to celebrating the success of LSU graduates, the LSU100 program provides a forum for LSU graduates to pass business success guidance on to the next generation of LSU entrepreneurs.
Founded in Mandeville in 1979, DonahueFavret is a commercial general contractor serving Louisiana and the Gulf South. The company builds nationally award-winning healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, workplace, civic and renovation projects, typically ranging from $8 million to $50 million in construction value. It delivers work through construction manager at risk (CMAR), design-build, design-assist, and traditional design-bid-build and has become one of the region's most trusted CMAR partners for public owners. Recent and current projects include renovations to the LSU Health Sciences Dental School, LSU Infrastructure Improvements, LSU Library and Learning Commons, Alost Hall at Northwestern State University, and Lady of the Sea General Hospital.
The company has been led by LSU graduates since the day it opened. Chairman John L. "Jack" Donahue earned his degree in civil engineering from LSU in 1967 and started the firm 12 years later. He was later inducted into the LSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Hall of Distinction and served three terms in the Louisiana State Senate. His son, President and CEO John L. Donahue III, earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from LSU in 1990, and joined the firm full time as a project manager and estimator. He was named president in 2007 and added the role of CEO in 2009. The company now employs several LSU alums, with five making up the Executive Leadership team.
