M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — DelMarVa — November 2025 — 11
www.marej.com
D el M ar V a
Award-winning regional construction manager celebrates 50th Anniversary Bancroft Construction enters new era as Mike Petka succeeds retiring president & CEO Greg Sawka
announced a leadership transition that honors the compa- ny’s proud history and bright fu- ture. After 25 years W
consecutive years, an unprece- dented accomplishment within the construction industry. “I’ve truly
new geographic regions, and we’ve set new standards as a leader in a variety of market sectors. Because of this growth and evolution as a company, we’ve been able to provide per- sonal and professional growth opportunities for our team members. I’m excited to see Bancroft and our people take on new challenges under the third wave of leadership.” In addition to his profes- sional achievements, Sawka has contributed to the broader community as a board mem- ber of various organizations. His influence extends well beyond Bancroft, leaving a
legacy of leadership rooted in both business excellence and civic responsibility. Succeeding Sawka as presi- dent & CEO is Mike Petka, who has been with Bancroft since 2000. Like Sawka, Petka began his career as a project engineer and quickly rose through the ranks, holding positions as project manager, senior project manager, VP of Preconstruc- tion, and most recently, VP of Operations. Along the way, Pet- ka has led diverse and complex projects across cultural, insti- tutional, healthcare, K-12, and higher education sectors. His successfully managed projects
include the Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden Revi- talization, Longwood Gardens East Conservatory Plaza, the ChristianaCare Freestanding Emergency Department, and the PS DuPont Middle School. His focus on client satisfac- tion, cost control, and schedule management has earned him lasting partnerships with cli- ents and stakeholders alike. As a senior leader, Petka drives strategic initiatives that ad- vance Bancroft’s utilization of technology and Lean pro- cesses, enhancing efficiency across the company. continued on page 36
ILMINGTON, DE — Bancroft Construction has
enjoyed work- ing with col- leagues who share an unwavering passion for construction excellence and contin-
Greg Sawka
Mike Petka
ued improvement,” said Sawka. Reflecting on his 15 years of leadership, Greg shares, “I’m most proud of the fact that, year after year, we’ve continued to grow as an organization into
with the company, 15 years of which as president & CEO, Greg Sawka will retire at the end of 2025, with Mike Petka appointed as his successor. This marks only the second time in Bancroft’s 50-year his- tory that the company’s top leadership has changed hands. Founded in 1975 by Stephen M. Mockbee, Bancroft grew from a small builder on the banks of the Brandywine Riv- er in Wilmington, Delaware into one of the most respected construction management firms in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Stephen’s vision was simple yet enduring: to deliver projects with integrity, pro- fessionalism, and a genuine commitment to the community in which we live and work. In 2010, Mockbee transitioned leadership to Greg Sawka, who carried those values for- ward while expanding Ban- croft’s reach and reputation. Sawka joined Bancroft Con- struction in 1999 as project engineer on the DuPont Stine Haskell Site in Newark, DE, and rose steadily through the organization, serving as project manager, vice presi- dent of Preconstruction, and ultimately president & CEO. Under his leadership, Sawka grew the company into a regional construction man- ager with the opening of two regional offices in Princeton, NJ and Salisbury, MD. Over the past 15 years, Bancroft has managed $2.5 billion in construction projects for local, regional, and world- renowned clients. A recent accomplishment was the suc- cessful completion of the $250 Million Longwood Reimag- ined project for Longwood Gardens, which was turned over to the client earlier this year. Sawka also built a company culture rooted in collaboration and service. Since 2010, Bancroft grew its employee base by 110% and has received a Delaware Top Workplace Award for nine
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