Tarlton Expands Executive Leadership Team


Trio tapped for career achievements, contributions to the construction industry and communities

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 25, 2019) – Tarlton Corp. announced the expansion of its executive leadership team, naming Jason Bretz, Sondra Rotty and Joe Scarfino vice presidents of the St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm.  

A WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and St. Louis’ largest women-owned general contractor and construction manager, Tarlton has been in business since 1946. The three new vice presidents join the executive leadership team of Tracy Hart, president and chief executive officer; Dirk Elsperman, executive vice president and chief operating officer; John Doerr, PE, executive vice president; and Anthony Eftimoff, vice president of finance.   

“We have many leaders at Tarlton, each contributing to our big team effort,” noted Elsperman. “It is especially exciting to bring new members to the executive leadership team because it promotes decision-making and a shaping of the future based on a broader set of experiences, knowledge and points of view.”

Added Hart, “These are the people who will help guide Tarlton’s future, and it’s rewarding to tap individuals who have been recognized contributors and role models for such a long time. In addition to their outstanding work ethic and achievements at Tarlton, Jason, Sondra and Joe – along with John Doerr, who was promoted earlier this year – are engaged in our industry and in their communities outside of work. All of this is important as Tarlton continues to prioritize building and investing in and for St. Louis.”

Bretz, LEED AP, ASHE, is heading up Tarlton’s work acquisition efforts, guiding well-established teams in preconstruction, estimating and business development. A licensed Professional Engineer who holds the Design-Build Professional designation, he has been with Tarlton for nearly 20 years. Serving most recently as a project executive, Bretz has provided preconstruction integral to the redevelopment of several historic buildings, including 700 Market St. in downtown St. Louis and @4240 in the Cortex Innovation Community. He also led the preconstruction efforts for 4220 Duncan Ave. in Cortex and coordinated Tarlton’s work for the U.S. General Services Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers. Bretz is active in the local chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America and lends his construction expertise on building committees for local projects in his community. An ardent runner and athlete, he regularly participates in the Tough Mudder endurance event series.

Rotty, LEED AP, formerly served as a project director and continues to lead some of Tarlton’s most complex institutional projects in St. Louis. She began her career at Tarlton as a project engineer in 2005. Rotty is part of the team managing Tarlton’s core and shell renovation of the historic St. Louis Post-Dispatch building at 900 N. Tucker Blvd. for StarLake Holdings LLC. Other current and recent clients include Washington University in St. Louis, GSA, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Community College. Rotty enjoys promoting the industry and sharing her love of construction with young women. A past recipient of the St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30” and “40 Under 40” awards, she serves on the Education Committee for the U.S. Green Building Council Missouri Gateway Chapter and completed the Women’s Leadership Forum for the Olin Business School at WashU. Rotty, who promotes personal health and wellness, is an avid runner and enthusiastic participant in philanthropic events as a member of Team Tarlton.      

Scarfino, CPC, ASHE, a 25-year Tarlton team member, formerly served as a project executive and continues to manage new construction and renovation projects of all sizes for health care, life science and other institutional clients such as BJC HealthCare, The Muny, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Bayer, Pfizer Inc., Hawthorn Leadership School Foundation and The Salvation Army. He is a member of the AGC Laborers Training Board, the American Heart Association’s St. Louis Hard Hats for Heart Committee and The Salvation Army Midland Division Property Committee. A Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Scarfino participates in wide-ranging charitable endeavors with Tarlton and on his own, volunteering for the Potbangerz food distribution program and serving as a former leader in a local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America.