Who We Are

They often say, “If you do what you love, you will 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.

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.

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.

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 seven 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.

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 and 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.

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).

“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 firsthand. 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.