About Janotta & Herner

Patti Anderson is the Director of Corporate Administration of the JHI Group of Companies, and is also the Office Manager at Janotta & Herner. She has been part of the Janotta & Herner Team for over 30 years and has worked in almost every aspect of accounting during her career. When asked what she enjoys most about working with the JHI Group, she will tell you that the people and work atmosphere is what truly sets the company apart. In her free time, Patti enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys being outside.

Ryan Bickley has been part of the Janotta & Herner Team since 2011. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, he has served as both a Project Manager and an Estimator while with the company. Ryan has been the Project Manager on some major projects including the Fisher-Titus Medical Offices in Norwalk, Ohio, which he considers one of his favorites.  Whenever his schedule allows, Ryan enjoys taking the family camping on the weekends during the summer months.

Brad Clark has been with Janotta & Herner for over 20 years. Starting in the field as a Foreman, he worked on some of our largest and most complex projects, including the Pepperidge Farm Plant Expansion.  Looking to further his construction career, Brad moved from the field into the office, into the role of a Project Manager. His years of construction experience and knowledge provide the Janotta & Herner Team with another valuable asset in this department.

Dan has been involved in various important roles at Janotta & Herner over the past 15 years, first as a Project Manager and now as a Structural Engineer. He is a registered Professional Engineer and obtained his B.S. in Civil Engineering at Ohio University. Dan is a member of numerous professional affiliations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Steel Construction, American Concrete Institute, and the Structural Engineers Association of Ohio. Dan also serves on several ACI technical committees, including ACI-336 (Footings) and ACI-360 (Slabs on Ground).

Joel Copley is a Senior Project Manager at Janotta & Herner. Joel earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio University and is registered as a Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio. Working as a project manager for the company since 2000, Joel has helped develop a range of projects for many different clients. “I enjoy the variety of challenges that our business continually poses to us, there is never a dull moment. I am most proud of the relationships I’ve developed with many of our clients and am gratified for their continued trust in our organization to help them solve problems and propel their business.” Joel and his wife Kay were married in 1994 and have two grown children.

Mike Garvin has been working in the construction industry for over 27 years and has been a Project Manager for Janotta & Herner over 15 years. He has an extensive background in the production and erection of Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings, which has proved to be a major asset for the Janotta & Herner Team. As a Project Manager, Mike enjoys orchestrating all of the moving parts that make a construction project possible. When he isn’t running jobs, Mike likes to spend his weekends with his kids.

Derek Guerra has been with Janotta & Herner for over 25 years. Starting as a Tradesman in the field, Derek continued his education at The University of Toledo and worked up the ranks of the company. He transitioned to a Foreman, then to an Estimator and finally to a Project Manager, which is the role he has held for the past 15 years. Derek has managed projects in a multitude of different industries but says his favorite project that he managed was the Vacationland Bank Headquarters in Sandusky, Ohio. When asked about what is his favorite part about working at Janotta & Herner, his answer is simply, “the people.”

Chris Hafner is our General Superintendent. He is in charge of the who, what and where for all Janotta & Herner projects. He schedules our labor force and equipment along with other logistics. With an average of over 400 projects per year, Chris keeps everything running smoothly. What Chris likes most about construction is the daily sense of accomplishment you get building something with your co-workers, and the unexpected challenges that he says “keep you on your toes”. When he is not working, Chris and his family show hogs at the county, state and national levels. He also works on their family farm where they grow soybeans, corn and raise beef cattle. Chris has been at Janotta & Herner for over 20 years which makes his understanding of our company and industry invaluable.

They often say, “If you do what you love, you never work a day in your life.” This could not be more true than for Janotta & Herner President Zach Jones. After graduating from The Ohio State University, Zach came to Janotta & Herner and started his career in construction, where he has been for over 20 years. His extensive experience and passion for building served him well as the Project Manager on the Pepperidge Farm Plant Expansion Project, one of Janotta & Herner’s largest projects to date. Zach believes that the only thing more exciting than watching someone’s idea go from a rough sketch to completed project, is being the person responsible for making it happen.

Tyler Kane has been with Janotta & Herner for four years. He graduated from the University of Toledo, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a minor in Business with honors (Magna Cum Laude). While attending the University of Toledo, Tyler was a student member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and held officer positions with Chi Epsilon (National Honor Society of Civil Engineers). As he works towards Professional Engineering certifications, he has taken on the role of Project Manager. Tyler has worked at Janotta & Herner seasonally since 2013 as part of the scholarship and internship program. During that time, he gained valuable knowledge of the field and design, which now benefits his project management role.

Justin Kerner serves as a Project Manager and Estimator on our Janotta & Herner team. Since graduating from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s in Construction Management, he has spent his entire career in a Project Management role with almost a decade of experience. In the time he has been with the company, he says that the culture and willingness of people to collaborate and help one another within the Janotta & Herner Team is what truly sets the company apart. Outside of construction, Justin is a huge sports fan and is always ready to talk about some Ohio State Football.

As Chief Financial Officer, Ben is responsible for the overall planning and management of finance and budget related activities for Janotta & Herner and sister company, Firelands Fabrication. Ben started his career in public accounting as an auditor and expanded his experience with subsequent roles focused on data analytics, business intelligence and financial budgeting and reporting. Ben is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration degree in both accounting and finance from Xavier University.

Ben is a lifelong resident of the area, growing up in Sandusky where he currently lives with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys golfing and basketball and is an active board member for Sandusky Central Catholic Schools.

Jason Ott is our Vice President of Construction Operations and is a vital part of our building process. With countless industrial certifications and a construction knowledge spanning over 30 years, he is Janotta & Herner’s go-to problem solver. If a project presents a tricky situation, Jason is the one who comes up with a solution. Some of his favorite projects at Janotta & Herner are some of our most unique, such as lifting a car to the top floor of Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky or replacing a 120-year-old Church steeple in Norwalk. Jason believes that our ability to complete a wide variety of projects, both big and small, is unique and is what makes Janotta & Herner such a great company to work for.

Randy Schafer has been a valuable member of the Janotta & Herner Team for over 25 years. Although he has spent almost his entire construction career here in Monroeville, Randy has perhaps one of the most diverse construction backgrounds of any of our Project Managers. Starting his Janotta & Herner career in the field, Randy later moved into the role of Designer, followed by Estimator and now Project Manager. Having the ability to look at a project from so many different angles has proven to be very valuable in his current position. A Monroeville native, Randy spends his free time in the local community supporting his kids in all of their activities.

Kyle serves as a Senior Project Manager at Janotta & Herner and offers over a decade of professional experience. After obtaining his construction management degree at Bowling Green State University, he worked for two well-established Toledo based commercial/industrial construction companies prior to joining Janotta & Herner. Kyle utilizes his diverse estimating and project management experience to successfully achieve his client’s construction objectives.

After serving as a Project Manager for a national healthcare contractor for over 7 years, Curt Thompson joined the Janotta & Herner team in 2016. He brings a combined total of 16 years construction experience into his current role as a Senior Project Manager and Estimator. As someone who enjoys all things outside, Curt first found his passion for building by working with his hands on the job site. After completing a Bachelor’s at Bowling Green State University in Construction Management, he started his career in Project Management. Curt’s favorite part about working at Janotta & Herner is his ability to work side by side with our in-house design department to build top quality projects.

“Building lasting relationships is the key to success in any industry.”  Over the last 15 years, Tyler has proven success while developing and standing by this motto first hand. Through his efforts in the competitive construction world, Tyler’s focus on the importance of spending meaningful, quality time while working with various businesses and encounters has allowed him to grow lasting relationships with countless area businesses. In his previous work experience, he served as an estimator and project manager for a heavy highway contractor.
Tyler comes to Janotta & Herner looking to grow the ever-changing construction environment. With a degree in Interpersonal Communications from Bowling Green State University, his marketing and advertising focus will prove valuable to his current role as Director of Business Development.  Outside of work, Tyler coaches his three children in youth sports, is an active member of the community and assists with his wife’s local coffee shop.

Josh Welfle is a dual threat as a registered Architect and former Project Manager. Josh’s enthusiasm for architectural design and function makes him a valuable asset to our design department. His knowledge in guiding a project from inception to completion will help with our design-build method of construction. Josh received his undergrad in Architecture from Bowling Green State University and his Masters of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University. He grew up and currently lives in Norwalk with his wife and two children. In his free time, he enjoys watching football, especially the Cleveland Browns.