Company History
1920 – John Janotta starts a commercial repair and restoration business in Norwalk, Ohio.
1946 – John’s son, Bob, joins the firm and together they form a new company named Janotta & Son Construction in Monroeville, Ohio.
1962 – Architect Jim Herner pitches an innovative design-build concept to Bob and together they start a design-build general contracting business, incorporating Janotta & Herner. Bob leads the construction side of the business, while Jim manages the architecture & design.
1968 – Janotta & Herner constructs their corporate headquarters at 309 Monroe Street, Monroeville, Ohio where they are still located to this day.
1989 – Significant expansion of company headquarters to increase our Project Management and Design capabilities.
2000 – Janotta & Herner sells 70% of company ownership to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This move meant every employee became an owner of Janotta & Herner.
2007 – The remaining 30% of company ownership is sold to its employees, making the company 100% owned by its employees.
2011 – Janotta & Herner acquires Firelands Fabrication, a company specialized in structural steel fabrication and miscellaneous metals, located in New London, Ohio. The acquisition allows Janotta & Herner to manufacture high quality steel in-house with shorter lead times.
2019 – Firelands Fabrication attains recognition as an AISC certified steel building fabricator.
2023 – JHI Group Inc. established JHI Properties LLC to offer additional building and leasing agreements with perspective clients.
2025 – JHI Group Inc establishes Firelands Metals, a specialty custom metal fabricator serving clients across Northern Ohio and beyond. Delivering precision metal solutions tailored to each project’s unique needs, with end-to-end capabilities from early-stage design and engineering through fabrication and installation.
2025 – In 2025, Janotta & Herner celebrated 25 successful years as an employee-owned company, a milestone that reflects a legacy of shared commitment, accountability, and craftsmanship. This achievement honors the dedication of the entire team and reinforces the company’s belief that ownership inspires excellence in every project delivered.
Today – Janotta & Herner is the region leading design-build firm focused on build-to-suit automotive, commercial, industrial, financial, food grade, medical, and warehousing projects in multiple markets throughout Ohio. Our core values – centered on integrity, quality, people, and teamwork – have been the enduring roots of our company’s earliest years and continue to strengthen over time.