Liza, a trailblazer since Jostin Construction’s inception in 1998, began her career as an educator and has consistently propelled the intentional growth of individuals and their skill sets within the organization. Her visionary leadership has been instrumental in defining Jostin’s WHY – a commitment to creating and providing a diversity of opportunities for all.

In her role as Chief People Officer, Liza oversees all facets of Jostin’s Human Resources, and employee development initiatives, dedicated to removing barriers and empowering Jostin’s employees to reach their full potential. Her impact extends beyond the corporate realm, as she serves as a longstanding member of the Board of Trustees for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Additionally, Liza actively contributes to the board of the Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. She also lends her expertise as a valued member of the Board of Advisors for MadTree Brewing Company.

Beyond her corporate and philanthropic pursuits, Liza is the Principal Owner of Brewster Pumping, a first-generation, woman-owned concrete pumping business. She is a recognized thought leader in workforce development and a passionate advocate for community engagement.

Notably, Jostin bears the namesake of Liza and her husband Albert’s first two sons, Joshua, and Justin, embodying the essence of familial and entrepreneurial synergy.

Liza’s commitment to innovation, community, and people extends to her personal life, where her two grandsons hold a special place as her favorite people in the world.

Whitney Eckert, our dynamic COO, has been an integral part of the Jostin Construction family since 2001. Her journey began at the helm of the accounting department, where for 21 years, she not only managed financial intricacies, but also fostered key client relationships, laying the groundwork for lasting partnerships.

In 2022, Whitney assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer, steering Jostin towards new heights of success across both the general contracting and concrete divisions. Known for her investigative prowess, she plays a pivotal role in uncovering innovative approaches to enhance our work—making Jostin’s operations smarter and more efficient.

Whitney extends her impact beyond Jostin, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation, and Allied Construction Industries (ACI). She places focus for her personal time to her family and five grandchildren.

Beyond her work ethic, Whitney infuses her leadership with a contagious sense of humor, creating an environment where dedication to excellence is complemented by a down-to-earth approach. Her strategic vision exemplifies the values we hold dear at Jostin Construction – going first, being the best at getting better, and good old fashioned ridiculous fun!

As Jostin Construction continues to build the future, Whitney’s leadership enhances the essence of our company’s dedication to excellence and advancement.

Albert C. Smitherman founded Jostin in 1998 with a passion for construction and a steadfast commitment to dismantling barriers and creating opportunities. While board rooms and conference rooms are his daily domain, his favorite “office” remains a metal deck concrete pour at 3 AM, where a double trowel doubles as his unconventional chair.

A man of purpose and vision, Albert serves as a trustee for The Christ Hospital Foundation, Bethany House Services, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and on the Episcopal Retirement Services board. His commitment to service extends beyond corporate walls, reflecting his dedication to community well-being.

Albert’s accolades include the esteemed Spirit of Construction Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his profound impact on the Greater Cincinnati Region. His visionary leadership has steered Jostin through transformative projects, from the Horseshoe Casino to the Redevelopment of the Banks Riverfront Entertainment Development and the iconic TQL Stadium. Notably, projects like Washington Park, Ziegler Park, and TQL Stadium have played a pivotal role in revitalizing Over-the-Rhine into a vibrant community— a testament to Albert’s commitment to creating spaces where all Cincinnatians can work, live, and play.

Albert C. Smitherman, the driving force behind Jostin, encapsulates a legacy of visionary leadership, community impact, and a commitment to shaping a future where construction is synonymous with innovation, inclusion, and excellence.

Meet Sara, our Chief Financial Officer at Jostin Construction. With two decades in the construction industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge from mastering previous roles as a controller and senior VP of accounting and risk management.

Sara’s a Certified Management Accountant, a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional, and she even aced strategic and competitive analysis. Plus, she’s a proud graduate of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s WE Lead Class 7, a distinguished leadership development program for women.

Sara joined Jostin in 2022, stepping into the CFO role. Her mission? Fuel our growth with strategic financial strategies that align with our goals and provide financial insights to Jostin’s stakeholders. But Sara isn’t just about crunching numbers. Outside the office, you’ll catch her hiking up a storm, or crushing it on the sand volleyball court.

In Sara, we’ve not just found a financial leader but a trailblazer who’s all about keeping it real, even when dealing with dollars and cents.

Justin’s first full-time job was with Jostin Construction. He worked as a laborer through high school in the concrete division eventually transitioning into a project manager immediately out of college. Justin is an entrepreneur at heart – it runs in the family – and has plans to grow into an executive role over time. Justin is a member of the Spirit of Construction Emerging Leaders program and enjoys sports of all sorts including Formula One racing and Major League Soccer.

Mike is a seasoned veteran in the construction industry. He started as a co-op at Jostin in 2000 and he’s never looked back.  He oversees operations of the Concrete division and has helped establish Jostin’s site work capability. Mike is 6’7” – and is hard to miss on jobsites – yes, he played basketball (at NKU). Mike supports the impactful work of the Ken Anderson Alliance where he serves as a volunteer.

Mike started at Jostin in 2002 as a co-op student from Cincinnati State. He now leads the estimating department across both the concrete and general contracting divisions. He is enthusiastic about growing the capabilities of his team and works in lockstep with the operations team and clients to arrive at the most efficient pricing and scope for projects. Mike is currently on the Board of Directors of the Spirit of Construction Foundation and is a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE).

He volunteers for People Working Cooperatively Repair Affair, National Kidney Foundation, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Walks for Kids. He enjoys watching his kids participate in sports and working on his 1966 Dodge Charger.

Jenny joined Jostin Construction in 2003 utilizing her “super power” organizational skills in the accounting department. Now, 20 years later, Jenny leads Jostin’s growing tool and equipment warehouse, promoted to Shop Manager in 2017. Leading the day-to-day shop operations for both Jostin Construction and Brewster Pumping, Jenny oversees the management of equipment and tools, purchasing, logistics, maintenance for Jostin assets, vehicles, and assists with Brewster operations. Jenny is a longtime committee member of the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati currently serving on the DEI committee.  She also flexes her super power muscles by organizing the travel logistics for all the music headliners at the annual Cincinnati Music Festival.

Prenell’s construction career spans 40-years and includes managing high-performing teams, budgets, safety, and operational efficiency for both residential and commercial projects. His background as a facilities management professional has instilled in Prenell a solutions-driven leadership style, enabling him to leverage Jostin’s talented Lexington team, long-standing relationships, and market analytics, to ensure our Lexington client goals are achieved. Prenell is a huge fan of sports and loves watching his daughter perform tap, jazz, and ballet.

Jeanne has over 25 years of Human Resource experience spanning diverse industries. She has expertise in a variety of areas including mergers and acquisitions, technology implementations, HR administration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jeanne is responsible for the day-to-day human resource functions of Jostin including employee development, talent acquisition, benefits, compensation, safety, and employee engagement. Jeanne is always willing to pitch in, assist and support to accomplish Jostin’s growth goals.

Josh grew up working office and field professional jobs for Jostin Construction. After graduating from Xavier University and expanding his marketing and sales knowledge base at Ford Motor Company, Josh joined Jostin in 2022 as the firm’s Business Development Manager. Responsible for growing Jostin’s primary service lines in target markets, Josh brings 10-years of experience in cultivating trusting client relationships, managing high performing, metric-driven teams, brand positioning, digital marketing, and client experience consulting. Josh serves on the board of Springer School and Center and is an avid car enthusiast.

Matt brings over 26 years of construction experience to his role as General Manager of General Contracting. In his role, he oversees the field operations manager, project managers, and project engineers.

Matt is responsible for ensuring quality, operational excellence, managing on-the-job training, and nurturing solid customer relationships. With his extensive experience in the construction industry, he has successfully delivered numerous projects through the management of Jostin’s trusted network of subcontractors.

Matt shows up as an industry leader through his service on the AGC Cincinnati Board, and his team is committed to providing exceptional project outcomes, a spirit of collaboration and an unwavering commitment to exceeding client expectations.