John Leighton

Mr. Leighton is a third generation native of Martin County and was educated at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and shortly thereafter joined Wotec, a leading United States based firm engaged in nuclear contracting and engineering support services to the power industry. After serving in various leadership roles, Mr. Leighton was instrumental in forming a real estate development and construction administration division within Wotec to serve the institutional and private sectors. Under his direction, Wotec and Mr. Leighton have collectively developed, constructed and managed numerous residential, commercial, industrial, aerospace, maritime, renewable energy and utility projects in Martin, St. Lucie, Lee, Dade, Broward, Citrus, Seminole Counties and Western North Carolina. 

Over the past thirty-four years, Mr. Leighton has had substantial experience within the construction, real estate, environmental remediation, and financial services industries. His general practice has concentrated on acquisitions, funding, entitlement, project coordination, land use/zoning, construction administration and property disposition within a number of sectors across the real estate spectrum. 

In addition to his professional practice, Mr. Leighton has been involved in a broad spectrum of community affairs and has been active on a number of community boards. Mr. Leighton was appointed by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners to serve as a founding board member of the Community Redevelopment Agency for Palm City, where he served for four years. He was also appointed by the City of Stuart Commission to serve on the board of their Local Planning Agency, (LPA). He also served as Interim Director and is a two-time past President of the Business Development Board of Martin County, Inc., a public/private partnership promoting economic development on the “Research Coast”, where he served from 2002 to 2012. Mr. Leighton served as a board member and was a Past Chairman of the Martin County Local Planning Agency, (LPA) and served on the Government Affairs Committee for the Realtor Association of Martin County. Currently, Mr. Leighton is a Board of Director and is very active supporting the mission of OPERATION 300, a non-profit organization providing mentorship to children of fallen soldiers, honoring the sacrifice of those who've given their all for our freedom, and promoting patriotism and service in our community.

Additionally, Mr. Leighton holds a number of professional licenses in the State of Florida including, a State Certified General Contractor’s license, a Real Estate Broker’s license and a Community Association Manager’s license. He also is a licensed General Contractor in North Carolina and holds a Private Pilot’s Certificate, (ASEL & ASES).