Manufacturing 2024: PRABHAT JAIN

Jain has been CEO of Virginia Transformer, the continent’s largest U.S.-owned power transformer manufacturer, since 1982 — 14 years after he arrived from India, mechanical engineering degree in hand. Over 42 years, he has grown the company from 35 employees to more than 2,700  across six plants.

Jain started as a machine shop foreman in 1965 at Hindustan Motors in India and worked as a product engineer at Robinson Halpern, later becoming division manager. There, Jain secured a patent for a high temp accelerometer. He earned his master’s in material science at Villanova University and an MBA at Lynchburg University.

In January, architecture, engineering and construction firm Burns & McDonnell named Virginia Transformer a 2023 Empowering Diverse Partnerships Partner of the Year.

Also in January, Roanoke Area Ministries announced plans to purchase and renovate a building on Elm Avenue to relocate from its longtime home on Campbell Avenue and expand its services to homeless people. The facility, opening in 2025, is to be named the Jain Care Center after Jain’s family, who donated significantly toward the facility purchase and pledged to match donations made to a fundraising campaign through March.