Jostin Construction has been changing Cincinnati since 1998.
“We’re a family business, guided by our values and principles,” says Liza Smitherman, chief people officer at Jostin Construction. “Keeping our values central to how we do business is what will last the test of time.”
An appreciation for diversity, a teamwork ethic and a dedication to being “the best at getting better” has allowed the company Albert Smitherman created with his wife Liza to thrive over the past 25 years.
There’s a good chance you’ve already seen some of Jostin Construction’s work around town: the FC Cincinnati Soccer Stadium, the GE Global Operations Center at The Banks, Bethany House Services, the Cincinnati Art Museum Art Climb and capital projects at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Jostin has also completed multiple endeavors with 3CDC and has worked with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and UC Health.
“I started the company to help live a better life with my family and to provide a better life for all people — to create and provide a diversity of opportunities for all, especially Black people, so that they would have fair opportunities in the construction industry,” says Albert Smitherman. “Jostin has filled the gap. We’re a reputable business that delivers high-quality, purpose-driven work to a variety of clients, and we are proud to be Black-owned.”
A New Chapter
Albert and Liza’s sons, Josh and Justin, have had an unparalleled perspective of the community development Jostin has been a part of creating. Partnered with Jostin leaders like Chief Financial Officer Sara Jones, Safety Manager Jake Rogerson, Estimator Eric Szucs and Employee Development and Retention Manager Olivia Smitherman, they’re ready for the future.
“We’ve really been instrumental in building this region,” says Josh Smitherman – Jostin’s business development manager.
Now the new generation is driving Jostin forward. In 2026, current Project Manager Justin Smitherman will be taking over as president of Jostin Construction.
“Our younger generation comes to the table with a different mindset,” Albert says. “They look at things from the lens of equality, fairness and equity for all people. This generation has seen the world, in person or virtually, and experienced the diversity that our world has to offer.”
To the Smithermans, a greater appreciation for collaboration leads to value and better retention, which has helped the company grow.
Recognizing the importance of spelling out their purpose to communities, Jostin identified its “why” in its early stages of growth. “Our why is to create and provide a diversity of opportunity for all,” Justin says. “It drives us to challenge the status quo and to break down barriers. It guides our work and how we engage with our employees, clients, partners and the community.”
The Total Package
As a testament to its diversity-first mindset, Jostin is a 100% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) construction company that offers general contracting duties, construction management and full-service concrete and general trades construction — bringing value to clients and putting more Cincinnati residents to work.
It offers several services that benefit every type of improvement project.
Jostin’s “total package” concrete construction package, for example, includes the management and field labor of projects for all kinds of concrete work, such as excavations, installation, foundations or slab work.
The company also has experience completing new construction, renovations or interior build-out projects. From development to the final product, the company can perform many aspects of the work with the expertise to manage qualified subcontractors for a successful project.
Additionally, the company provides expert construction consultation and project management services dedicated to guiding the project life cycle end-to-end, with extensive industry experience and management expertise at every level — offering a unique benefit to the clients in quality, control and cost.
The company is driven by a commitment to offering services like these with an understanding of the value of collaboration.
“We start and end with the community in mind and determine how we can complete projects with a true representation of our community’s makeup,” says Whitney Eckert, the chief operating officer at Jostin. “We focus on putting people to work and giving them opportunities to advance their careers. This focus runs across all levels of our business, from the office to our skilled field professionals.”
A Bright Future
Albert is proud of all that Jostin has accomplished under his leadership but is eager to see the heights his children and their team will reach. “The next generation wants to move the needle and take more informed and calculated risks. They’re aware of the shift in attitude and mindset of their peers and their desire to engage differently. This will allow for inclusive and impactful business growth.”
That generation also includes son Jeremy Smitherman, currently in Chicago working for NBC Universal and gaining skills that Jostin would love to bring back to the company. Daughter Jade Smitherman is a junior at The University of Cincinnati studying pre-law. The company hopes she’ll join Jostin after completing her law degree.
As for the future, Josh knows what needs to be done. “My role will include embracing new industry technology, driving our inclusive culture forward and leveraging our workforce development and thought leadership to grow in new markets.
With a dedicated family on hand and a staff of over a hundred skilled field professionals, Justin is more than prepared to sustain Jostin’s reputation for quality and see the company through another era of unprecedented growth and inclusion.
Reflecting on his father’s leadership, the family standing by as his support and a dedicated workforce that has already made an incredible impact on Cincinnati, perhaps Justin says it best: “This is a new era of Jostin Construction.”
Want to get Jostin Construction for your next project? Visit jostinconstruction.com for more information or find Jostin Construction on LinkedIn.