John Thomas joined Great Lakes Advisors to expand our firm-wide Institutional client presence with particular focus on Taft-Hartley and Public Fund clients. He was formerly with Rothschild & Co for 17 years as its Chief ERISA Plans Officer. Previously, John led the formation of Rorer Asset Management’s Institutional Services department. He began his professional career as the youngest Director of Labor Relations for both the Bechtel Group Inc. and later the Philadelphia Electric Company. During this time, he served as a management trustee on several Taft-Hartley plans. John has also worked for the preeminent police, firefighter, public sector, and building and construction trades law firms of Jennings & Sigmond and Willig, Williams & Davidson, serving as a Labor, Employment, and ERISA counsel.

John is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia Bar Associations and teaches labor law through The Penn State University Union Leadership Academy and Drexel University. John is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and received their Outstanding American Award. He now serves on the Board of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Pennsylvania Chapter), as counsel to the Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, and serves on the board of Beat the Streets. John is a fellow at the Gordian Institute / RL Partners and serves as a board member of World Save Advisors. John is active with numerous youth related fund raising activities. He remains an avid sportsman, coach and athlete and enjoys wrestling, rugby, martial arts, skiing, golf, wing shooting, fresh water and salt water sport fishing and horseback riding.

Education and Professional Credentials 

• Industry Start: 1996
• Franklin & Marshall College, BA
• Villanova University, JD