Carpenters hammer beams together, framing three-story townhouses.
Cement trucks get ready to pour dozens of driveways and curving lanes.
This sure feels like success. Mr. Michaux is chief executive officer of AvalonBay Communities Inc., which is building Herndon's new residences. The young man nods. But over dinner a few hours later, Mr. Michaux is downright wistful. The nation's newest business heroes are breaking all the rules he has learned in his 30-year career.