:John Rakolta

Rakolta received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Marquette University in 1970 and then studied smaller company management at the Harvard Business School.[http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/suplimente/editie-de-colectie/constructorul-44591.html Constructorul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202062035/http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/suplimente/editie-de-colectie/constructorul-44591.html |date=February 2, 2017 }}, May 22, 2005, Ana-Maria Luca, Jurnalul Național

All four of Rakolta's grandparents were immigrants from Romania.{{cite web | url=https://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/suplimente/editie-de-colectie/constructorul-44591.html | title=Constructorul }}[http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/colleges/technolo/link_desc.cfm?LinkID=127 John Rakolta Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319193904/http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/colleges/technolo/link_desc.cfm?LinkID=127 |date=March 19, 2012 }}[http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/suplimente/editie-de-colectie/constructorul-44591.html Constructorul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202062035/http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/suplimente/editie-de-colectie/constructorul-44591.html |date=February 2, 2017 }}, 22 mai 2005, Ana-Maria Luca, Jurnalul Național, accesat la 23 aprilie 2017

He was - until he assumed office of US Ambassador to the UAE - the Honorary-Consul General[http://www.roembus.org/english/services/honorary_consulates.htm#Honorary%20Consulates%20of%20Romania%20in%20the%20US Honorary Consulates of Romania in the US] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625004649/http://www.roembus.org/english/services/honorary_consulates.htm |date=June 25, 2007 }} for Romania in Detroit.

Rakolta's father, John Rakolta Sr. (1923–2003), was the head of Walbridge Aldinger before Rakolta. Rakolta Jr. began his career at Walbridge in 1970,{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110919/FREE/110919892/john-rakolta-joins-agree-realty-board-is-companys-16th-largest|title=John Rakolta joins Agree Realty board, is company's 16th-largest investor|date=2011-09-19|website=Crain's Detroit Business|language=en|access-date=2019-10-28}} and became president in 1979 and CEO and chairman in 1993.{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/16/senate-votes-nomination-john-rakolta-uae-ambassador/2313901001/|title=Senate advances Rakolta nomination for UAE ambassador|publisher=The Detroit News|author=Melissa Nann Burke|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}

Rakolta is also on the board of the Munder Funds since 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/united-states-ambassador-to-united-arab-emirates-who-is-john-rakolta-jr?news=860464|title=United States Ambassador to United Arab Emirates: Who Is John Rakolta, Jr.?|website=AllGov.com|author=Bewig, Matt|date=May 6, 2018|accessdate=May 21, 2018}}

In 2015, Walbridge and partnered with Brazilian company Construcap in the construction of a new 6-million-square-foot Jeep assembly complex and supplier park in Goiana, Brazil, and were honored by Engineering News-Record with the publication's Global Best Manufacturing Project of the Year Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.enr.com/articles/16668-best-project-manufacturing-goiana-jeep-assembly-plant|title=Best Project, Manufacturing: Goiana Jeep Assembly Plant|publisher=Engineering News-Record|accessdate=31 July 2020}} In 2015 Rakolta was co-chair of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit School Children, which recommended reform for the school system of Detroit, including limiting the number of charter schools in the city.[https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/21833 article on Coalition for the Future of Detroit School children][http://michiganradio.org/post/coalition-calls-new-steps-improve-k-12-education-detroit Michigan Radio article on coalition cocharied by Rakolta] Also in 2015, Walbridge began a multi-year transformation of the General Motors Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2017/08/30/see-renderings-of-new-upgrades-coming-to-warren-gm-tech-center/|title=See renderings of new upgrades coming to Warren GM Tech Center|publisher=Click on Detroit|author=Ken Haddad|date=August 30, 2017 |accessdate=31 July 2020}} In 2017, Ford Motor Company selected Walbridge to provide construction services for the redevelopment of its Dearborn, Michigan, world headquarters and campus facilities.{{cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-11472-449320--y_2017,00.html|title=Walbridge Ford Dearborn Campus Transformation (DCT) Project Receives MIOSHA's MVPPC Rising Star Award|publisher=Michigan.gov|accessdate=31 July 2020}}

Rakolta was one of the National Finance Chairs for Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. Along with his work for the Romney campaigns, Rakolta was a major fundraiser for the Bush campaign in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/07/mccain-romney-m.html |title=The John McCain-Mitt Romney bond warms on the trail |website=Latimesblogs.latimes.com |date=July 19, 2008 |accessdate=2017-05-05}} Most recently he was State Finance Chair for Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan. Rakolta served as the chairman of New Detroit from 2003 to 2010.

He was a financial advisor for Trump in Michigan and helped fund Trump's transition team after the election.[https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/news/a8772/steven-mnuchin-trump-transition-fundraiser/ article mentioning Rakolta as one of funders of Trump's transition team]

In May 2018, Rakolta was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.{{cite web|url=https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/28/detroit-rakolta-trump-ambassador-uae/468000002/|title=Detroit executive, GOP benefactor John Rakolta Jr. nominated by Trump as Ambassador to UAE|author=Gray, Kathleen|date=March 28, 2018|work=Detroit Free Press|accessdate=April 3, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2021|title=PN2021 – John Rakolta Jr. – Department of State|date=May 21, 2018|website=U.S. Congress|accessdate=2018-05-22}} The U.S. Senate confirmed him on September 17, 2019, by a vote of 63–30.{{cite web | title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: John Rakolta, Jr., of Michigan, to be Ambassador of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates ) | url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00283 | work=United States Senate | accessdate=September 17, 2019}} In March 2020, Rakolta was appointed commissioner general of the U.S. pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.{{cite web|url=https://www.constructionweekonline.com/people/appointments/263835-commissioner-general-named-for-expo-2020-dubai-us-pavilion|title=Commissioner general named for Expo 2020 Dubai US Pavilion|publisher=Construction Week|author=Ranju Warrier|date=March 19, 2020 |accessdate=July 8, 2020}} His tenure as an ambassador ended on January 19, 2021.{{Cite tweet |number=1351530217039409154 |user=USAinUAE |title=مع انتهاء فترة عمله كسفير للولايات المتحدة في دولة الإمارات، يوجه السفير جون راكولتا رسالة الوداع هذه إلى شركائنا الإماراتيين. #شركاء_متحدون #UnitedPartners @USAExpo2020 |date=January 19, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2021}}

Rakolta and his wife Terry Rakolta were married in 1976 and have four children: Paige, Eileen, Lauren, and John Rakolta III. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Terry Rakolta is the sister of Mitt Romney's former sister-in-law, Ronna Romney. John Rakolta is also the uncle to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel.

In 1993, the Rakoltas bought a property on Everglades Island near Palm Beach, Florida. The gardens, designed by Jorge Sanchez, were given the Lesly S. Smith Landscape Award by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach in 2013.{{cite web |title= Everglades Island garden honored with Lesly S. Smith Landscape Award |work= Palm Beach Daily News |first= Kaki |last= Holt |date= March 18, 2013 |url= http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/national/everglades-island-garden-honored-with-lesly-smith-landscape-award/7G8qFzeWj3uAWB2JXJCVsI/ }}

In 2018, Rakolta was named Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News for his advocacy work for the Detroit Public School System.{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/videos/news/michigan/michiganians-of-year/2018/06/22/john-rakolta-jr-2018-michiganian-year/723644002/|title=John Rakolta Jr., 2018 Michiganian of the Year|publisher=The Detroit News|author=Max Ortiz|accessdate=July 31, 2020|archive-date=December 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203115555/https://www.detroitnews.com/videos/news/michigan/michiganians-of-year/2018/06/22/john-rakolta-jr-2018-michiganian-year/723644002/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201112182751/https://ae.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/ambassador/ |archive-date= November 12, 2020 |url=https://ae.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/ambassador/ |title=Ambassador John Rakolta Jr. Profile |work= U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the United Arab Emirates}}

• Chairman of New Detroit{{cite web|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/assets/PDF/CD719441212.PDF|title=Transforming leadership is challenge of a generation|publisher=Crains Detroit Business|author=Marti Benedetti and Constance Crump|accessdate=31 July 2020}}
• Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren (Co-chair){{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/16/senate-votes-nomination-john-rakolta-uae-ambassador/2313901001/|title=Senate advances Rakolta nomination for UAE ambassador|publisher=The Detroit News|author=Melissa Nann Burke|accessdate=31 July 2020}}
• Engineering Society of Detroit{{cite web|url=https://www.esd.org/awards/horace-h-rackham-humanitarian-award/|title=Horace H. Rackham Humanitarian Award|publisher=ESD|accessdate=31 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/19990429/press022557.html|title=AIAG Names AlliedSignal, Walbridge Aldinger Executives To the Board of Directors|publisher=The Auto Channel|accessdate=31 July 2020}}
• Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (Co-chair){{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/trump-administration-reveals-new-us-ambassador-to-uae-1.716975|title=Trump administration reveals new US ambassador to UAE|publisher=The National|author=Caline Malek|date=March 29, 2018 |accessdate=31 July 2020}}

• Black Family Development, Inc's Dr. Gerald K. Smith Award (2014){{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/michronicle/docs/mc.12.3.14|title=Archive: Black Family Development, Inc. 2014 Presidents' Dinner|date=December 3, 2014 |publisher=Michigan Chronicle|accessdate=31 July 2020}}
• Engineering Society of Detroit's Horace H. Rackham Humanitarian Award
• Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit's Executive Leadership Award (2014){{cite web|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/nation-world-news/marketing-and-sales-executives-of-detroit-honors-top-achievers/article_7f19b002-b630-53fb-8544-7c3f26f30da6.html|title=Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit honors top achievers|publisher=The Oakland Press|date=31 July 2020}}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• New Detroit's Leadership in Race Relations Award (2015){{cite web|url=https://michiganchronicle.com/2015/06/03/new-detroits-closing-the-gap-announces-2015-honorees/|title=New Detroit's 'Closing the Gap' announces 2015 honorees|publisher=Michigan Chronicle|author=AJ Williams|date=June 3, 2015 |accessdate=31 July 2020}}
• Urban Land Development Michigan Lifetime Achievement Award (2017){{cite web|url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/event-at-lingenfelters-classic-car-collection-to-benefit-ronald-mcdonald-house/10059/|title=Event at Lingenfelter's Classic Car Collection to Benefit Ronald McDonald House|publisher=D Business|author=Adrienne Roberts|date=August 6, 2015 |accessdate=31 July 2020}}
• Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship (2005)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080723181836/http://www.romanianconsulate.com/e-rakolta.htm Romanian consulate bio of Rakolta]
• [http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=4932570&privcapId=942578&previousCapId=181478&previousTitle=Masco%20Corp. Business Week bio of Rakolta]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091104171248/http://www.marquette.edu//alumni/awards/recipients/rakolta.shtml Marquette University page on Rakolta]

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Category:Latter Day Saints from Michigan

Category:American people of Romanian descent

Category:Harvard Business School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Marquette University alumni

Category:Mitt Romney

Category:People from Oakland County, Michigan

Category:Michigan Republicans

Category:1947 births

Category:People associated with the 2008 United States presidential election

Category:Florida Republicans

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to the United Arab Emirates