Our Leadership Team

Mike Petka serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bancroft Construction Company and is a partner in the firm. A member of Bancroft’s Executive Leadership Team since 2017, Mike previously held leadership roles as Vice President of Preconstruction and Vice President of Operations, where he helped shape the company’s strategic direction, operational excellence, and client-focused delivery approach.

With more than 30 years in the construction industry, including over 25 years at Bancroft, Mike brings deep field experience across institutional and higher education projects, along with a strong focus on sustainable construction. He has led academic and healthcare projects, achieving green building certifications. Mike served as Senior Project Manager for the Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden Revitalization, completed in 2017, and has led several other prominent projects at Longwood Gardens, ChristianaCare’s Middletown facility, and the Brandywine School District’s Pierre S. du Pont project.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and has served on the boards of ABC Delaware and the Delaware Contractor Association. His leadership reflects a balance of technical expertise, long-term industry perspective, and a commitment to advancing Bancroft’s mission and people.

Tony is a highly experienced construction professional specializing in project management within the cultural and healthcare sectors. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering & Management from North Carolina State University, Tony has dedicated his career to overseeing complex projects, prioritizing safety, efficiency, and quality. In 2024, Tony served as the Senior Project Manager for Longwood Gardens’ Longwood Reimagined Project. The transformative $250 million endeavor to 17 acres in Kennett Square, PA, was Longwood Gardens’ most significant capital investment to date. Tony effectively led a team of over 25 Bancroft operational resources and nearly 100 trade partners, garnering recognition as an ENR Top Newsmaker in 2024.

He actively practices Lean Construction, contributing to Bancroft’s Lean Journey and collaborating with Lean Experts, including The Realignment Group and RS Consulting, to implement Lean principles. He also plays a pivotal role as a member of Bancroft Construction’s Senior Leadership Team, shaping organizational initiatives and demonstrating a commitment to innovation in the engineering and construction industry.

Casey brings a career of operations experience into his role as Chief Financial Officer. His project experience and successes laid the foundation for his leadership in Bancroft’s contract administration, risk management, and financial systems and controls. Casey joined Bancroft in 2005 as an assistant project manager and quickly earned several promotions in Operations on his way to CFO.

Casey’s ability to understand and lead through complex challenges has made him an invaluable asset to Bancroft. He has an innate ability to develop solutions to resolve the most complicated situations. Casey’s trustworthiness and integrity help him build strong positive relationships with all stakeholders. Casey is active in the community, holding leadership roles in non-profit organizations such as Children & Families First.

Kelli focuses on the client’s perspective and is responsible for providing leadership to the Preconstruction team to ensure the client remains front and center as the team moves into the construction phase. With 15 years of experience working on the “owner’s side,” developing and maintaining relationships to deliver exceptional projects has been Kelli’s driving force throughout her 35+ year career in the design and construction field. As a registered architect, she provides a comprehensive view of project processes, from early conceptual planning through active management of owner occupancy to existing building assessment. This unique combination of experience provides our clients with the assurance that they have a strong advocate for their project needs and goals.

Rob is responsible for providing leadership to our project teams and has an integral role in the company’s Work Acquisition Group. Additionally, Rob has a leadership role in Bancroft’s business development and operational execution out of our Salisbury (MD) office. With over 30 years of project management experience, including 21 with Bancroft Construction, Rob provides a unique operations perspective and problem-solving skills developed and honed during his previous responsibilities, including serving Bancroft as Director of Marketing and, before that, 13 years in Operations as Project Manager. Rob’s diverse portfolio features projects completed in several markets, including Higher Education, Science and Technology, Hospitality, Department of Defense, and K through 12.

With decades of experience in a variety of roles in the construction industry, Ron readily mentors the next generation of leaders as a Project Executive. He is extremely client-centric and develops long-lasting, committed relationships with clients and trade partners. For the past 15 years, Ron has been leading the New Jersey Region on numerous technically complex facilities in the life sciences and biopharma industries, including R&D labs, clean rooms, process installations, and manufacturing. Ron will continue to support Owner and Project teams in the New Jersey and Delaware region.

Steve brings a steady, hands-on leadership approach to Bancroft’s multifamily work, guiding project teams from preconstruction through turnover with a focus on collaboration, risk management, and client trust. Since joining Bancroft in 2021, he has led five multifamily projects, navigating tight sites, accelerated schedules, and complex coordination with a calm, solutions-oriented mindset. His day-to-day involvement and commitment to mentoring teams help ensure projects stay aligned with client goals while delivering consistent, high-quality results.

With nearly 30 years of experience across the multifamily, commercial, institutional, and government sectors, Steve’s leadership is shaped by a career spent viewing projects from every angle as an owner’s representative, project executive, and builder. This broad perspective allows him to anticipate challenges early, balance competing priorities, and advocate effectively for both clients and project teams. The result is a leadership style rooted in collaboration and accountability, giving clients confidence that their projects are in the hands of experienced, capable professionals and reinforcing Bancroft’s ability to deliver buildings that strengthen communities and endure over time.