Evans Announces New Chief Operating Officer

Enhanced executive alignment and new appointments strengthen operational excellence

Atlanta, GA – February 6, 2026 — Evans General Contractors announced today that John De Lay, Evans’ SVP of Field Operations, will be transitioning into the role of Chief Operating Officer in a strategic move that aligns with the firm’s expanding portfolio and growing operational needs.

As part of this new role, John will assist RT in instilling operational excellence, focusing on company-wide, long-term strategy, company structure, and scalability. With over 26 years of global industry experience, John has worked to fine-tune practices and enhance process efficiencies at Evans, including improvements in scheduling, resource coordination, and the development of controls and procedures for QA/QC and safety programs. Throughout his tenure, John’s leadership has cultivated strong teams across management, preconstruction, and the field operations, all dedicated to delivering successful projects across every market.

“While much of my career has been spent in the field, my role as SVP of Field Operations has given me the opportunity to work closely with both our field teams and our project management teams,” stated John. “That experience has shown me firsthand how critical it is for these two groups to operate in close alignment. One of my key priorities will be to strengthen that connection and bring these teams even closer together.”

With John’s new role as COO helping to lead operations, Jeff will have more time to focus on strategic vision and growth as well as supporting Evans’ accounting, legal, IT, and training divisions. He will also continue to contribute to business development and revenue strategies while working closely with RT to support teams in delivering consistent high-quality results.

To further drive operational innovation and consistency amongst teams, Rob Dace has been promoted to VP of Field Operations. “I am extremely confident in Rob’s ability to lead our field teams,” said RT. “Not only does he exemplify our culture, but his humbleness and work ethic has earned him respect amongst his peers. Under his leadership, Evans will continue cultivating a people first culture while being able to execute exceptionally.”