John Joseph Campion Explained
John Joseph Campion (January 17, 1963 – October 2, 2020) was an Irish-American entrepreneur. In 1987, he founded Showpower, Inc.,[1] a California company that provided portable generators for the Rolling Stones, U2, Kiss and AC/DC.[2] Campion served as chairman and chief executive officer of APR Energy plc (LSE: APR).[3] [4]
Early life
Born in Cork, Ireland, Campion was held back in primary school twice, failed secondary school exams, and did not attend college.[5] At age 21, Campion emigrated to the United States with an airline ticket and $25 in his possession.[6]
Corporate leadership
Under the leadership of Campion, APR Energy specialized in the rapid deployment of electrical power-generating plants in areas of the world that have been struck by natural disasters or that are experiencing a shortage of energy.[7] The modular power plants are typically constructed in a few months. Campion held several patents for this technology.[8] One such plant was assembled in 45 days following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a task that would normally require from three to four years to complete for a permanent power plant installation.[9] [10] It took APR Energy less than a month to deploy a power plant in Cyprus with the equivalent generating capacity to power approximately 120,000 American homes.[11]
Other projects have been undertaken in Uruguay, Yemen, Senegal, Argentina, Libya and Botswana, among other countries.[12] [13] The company has received numerous awards for its technology.[14]
From zero revenues at its founding, APR Energy has grown to $486 million in revenues, projected for 2014. The company employs more than 150 people in Jacksonville and over 850 internationally.[15] In 2014, the company was valued at $1.2 billion.[16]
Campion, who founded APR Energy, left his role as CEO in May 2019 to take over as the non-executive chairman for the APR board.[17]
The Campion Automotive Collection
Campion assembled a stable of Lancias.[18] His collection includes seven models that have each raced in the World Rally Championship (WRC):
- 1969 Lancia Fulvia, winner of the 1972 Daily Mirror Royal Automobile Club Rally, a predecessor of the WRC[18] [19]
- 1975 Lancia Stratos, winner of several races in the late 1970s and restored in 2011[18]
- 1979 Fiat 131, was on the cover of Road & Track, May issue 1980[20]
- 1980 Lancia Beta Montecarlo GR5, ran in Daytona 24 Hours in 1981 and dropped a valve on hour 14 [21]
- 1983 Lancia 037 Evo 2 chassis #11 of 20 Evolution 2s. Took part in nearly two dozen rally races, earning several top-three finishes, including first place in a 1985 Coppa Italia race[18]
- 1983 Lancia LC2 chassis #001 of 7, raced at Monza and Le Mans in the 1983 and ‘84 seasons, and three races at Fuji in 1985 [22]
- 1985 Lancia Delta S4, used as a test car for all the races that the Delta S4 was in on the World Rally Championship[23]
- 1988 Lancia Delta Integrale that won the 1988 Portugal Rally and the 1988 Olympus/USA race[18]
His Lancia collection has been displayed at the 2015 Concours d’Elegance on Amelia Island, Florida.[24] [25] Campion's complete car collection also includes Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Porsches.[26]
Philanthropy
Campion helped to launch Team Ireland along with the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the President of Motorsport Ireland.[27] The Team Ireland Foundation is a national program designed to support young drivers in the sports of rallying, racing and karting.[28] Campion was involved with the University of North Florida’s Osprey SAE Student Race Team.[29] The UNF Osprey Student Racing team received financial support and mentorship from Campion in 2015 and 2016.[30] A partner of the Just a Bunch of Roadies (JABOR) global humanitarian group,[31] Campion's work included donating fuel, plus trucks and personnel to relief efforts in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010.[32] [33] In addition to his other works, Campion served as a board member to The Catholic University of America, providing students development support.[34]
Death
Campion died from leukemia on October 2, 2020, aged 57.[35] [36]
Awards and recognition
- 2017 Honorary BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of North Florida[37]
- 2016 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient[38]
- Jacksonville Business Journal 2014 Ultimate CEO[39]
- Performance Magazine Awards : ShowPower Generators 1996, 1997 & 1998
- Jacksonville Business Journal Innovation of the Year 2014[40]
- MEED Quality Awards 2014 - Oman Power & Water Project of the Year[41]
- Asian Power's Fast-Track Power Plant of the Year – 2014[42]
- Middle East Electricity's Power Plant of the Year Finalist[43]
Patents
- Scalable Portable Modular Power Plant, US 8,816,518 B2[44]
- Scalable Portable Modular Power Plant, US 8,872,366 B2[45]
Notes and References
- Web site: Blatt. Ruth. How Two Former Roadies Created A Billion-Dollar Energy Company. Forbes. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Jarvis. Rebecca. From High-School Dropout to Billion Dollar Biz. abcnews.go.com. ABC News. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: HORIZON ACQUISITION COMPANY PLC ORD 10P Share Price - Shares - London Stock Exchange . 2015-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110825004722/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary.html?fourWayKey=GB00B58D4C52GBGBXSSMU . 2011-08-25 . dead .
- Web site: Board of Directors. aprenergy.com. APR Energy plc. 5 May 2015. 9 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150509040852/http://www.aprenergy.com/board-directors. dead.
- Web site: Blatt. Ruth. How Two Former Roadies Created A Billion-Dollar Energy Company. Forbes. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: Jarvis. Rebecca. From High-School Dropout to Billion Dollar Biz. abcnews.go.com. ABC News. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Blatt. Ruth. How Two Former Roadies Created A Billion-Dollar Energy Company. Forbes. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: US 8,816,518 B2. uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Jarvis. Rebecca. From High-School Dropout to Billion Dollar Biz. abcnews.go.com. ABC News. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: From Rock n' Roll Roadie to Energy Company CEO. bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Blatt. Ruth. How Two Former Roadies Created A Billion-Dollar Energy Company. Forbes. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: Werley. Jensen. APR Energy could be losing $17 million a month with contract delay, causing its stock to plummet. Jacksonville Business Journal. 2 June 2015.
- Web site: Mathala. Oaitse. Energy boost for Botswana. The Botswana Gazette. 2 June 2015.
- Web site: Jarvis. Rebecca. From High-School Dropout to Billion Dollar Biz. abcnews.go.com. ABC News. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Snite. Eleanor. 2014 Ultimate CEO: John Campion. bizjournals.com. Business Journal. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Blatt. Ruth. How Two Former Roadies Created A Billion-Dollar Energy Company. Forbes. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: Management & Board: Board Members . APR Energy . 14 February 2020.
- Web site: Woodyard. Chris. This Lancia collector is ready for Florida car show. USA Today. Gannett Company. 8 June 2015.
- Web site: Golfen. Bob. Driven: 1969 Lancia Fulvia heads for Amelia Island. blog.classiccars.com. Classic Cars. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Gushue. Ted. John Campion's Lifelong Obsession With Group B Rally Has Shaped A World Class Collection. Petrolicious.com. 5 April 2016 . May Moon Media. 14 June 2016.
- Web site: Campion. John. What It's Like To Drive A Lancia Beta Montecarlo At Daytona. Petrolicious. 15 February 2017 . May Moon Media. 17 February 2017.
- Web site: McKenzie. Aaron. LANCIA RACING HISTORY ENDURES IN JOHN CAMPION'S LC2. Hagerty.com. 4 May 2017 . The Hagerty Group, LLC. 17 May 2017.
- Web site: Gushue. Ted. John Campion's Lifelong Obsession With Group B Rally Has Shaped A World Class Collection. Petrolicious.com. 5 April 2016 . May Moon Media. 14 June 2016.
- Web site: Golfen. Bob. Exotic Lancia rally racers star at Amelia Island Concours. blog.classiccars.com. Classic Cars. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Haden. Peter. Jax Businessman Showing Off Rare Cars At Concours D'Elegance This Weekend. WJCT. 13 March 2015 . 8 June 2015.
- Web site: Golfen. Bob. Driven: 1969 Lancia Fulvia heads for Amelia Island. blog.classiccars.com. Classic Cars. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Team Ireland Foundation. Rally.ie. 17 February 2016.
- Web site: McHugh. Robert. TEAM IRELAND FOUNDATION LAUNCHED AT THE MANSION HOUSE. Business World. Newsaccess. 17 February 2016.
- Web site: APR Energy becomes the new sponsor of the Osprey SAE Student Race Team. unf.edu. The University of North Florida. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: Scanlan. Dan. Osprey Racing improves by design. Jacksonville.com. Florida Times Union. 17 February 2016.
- Web site: Partners and Affiliates. justabunchofroadies.com. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: DELIVERING HAPPINESS AS WELL AS HEALTH TO HAITI. justabunchofroadies.com. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: APR AND ROCK-IT SUPPLY RELIEF TO HAITI. rockitcargo.com. Rock It Cargo. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: School of Business and Economics. cua.edu. The Catholic University of America. 7 January 2016.
- Web site: Obituary - John Campion . Motorsport.ie . 2020-10-08 . Leo . Nulty . https://web.archive.org/web/20201008163741/https://motorsport.ie/2020/10/08/obituary-john-campion/ . 2020-10-08 .
- Web site: Timothy . Gibbons . John Campion, co-founder of APR Energy, dies at age 57 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201006172754/https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2020/10/05/john-campion-obit.amp.html . Jacksonville Business Journal . October 5, 2020 . October 6, 2020.
- Web site: Information Item # 3- Submitted by the Faculty Affairs Committee (2016/2017 - Dec). unf.edu. University of North Florida. 17 May 2017.
- Web site: Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Neco.org. 14 June 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160608220224/http://www.neco.org/medal-of-honor/2016-medalists. 8 June 2016.
- Web site: Snite. Eleanor. 2014 Ultimate CEO: John Campion. bizjournals.com. Business Journal. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Lasher. Neill. Innovation of the Year: APR Energy. bizjournals.com. Business Journal. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Observer. Oman. Six Omani projects win MEED Quality Awards. omanobserver.om. Oman Observer. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: APR Energy's Myanmar Project Named Asian Power's Fast-Track Power Plant Of The Year. poweronline.com. PRNewswire. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: Power Project of The Year. middleeastelectricity.com. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: US 8,816,518 B2. uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office. 5 May 2015.
- Web site: US 8,872,366 B2. uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office. 5 May 2015.