Laurence M. Downes of West Windsor was one of eight lay Catholic people to receive a papal award on September 8 at Church of Saint Ann in Lawrenceville. Downes received the Benemerenti medal. He has served the diocese as chairman of the finance council since 1997 and was formerly the chair of the board of trustees at Georgian Court University, Lakewood.
Born in Hackensack, he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Iona College and an MBA. He also completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Downes joined New Jersey Resources in 1985 and is now chairman of the board and CEO of NJR and its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas. Downes is also a director and past chairman of the American Gas Association and the Natural Gas Council, a trustee of the American Gas Foundation and Choose New Jersey, a member of the board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and a trustee of St. David the King Parish in West Windsor. Downes and his wife, Carol, have two children.
