Tampa Bay

Partnerships that Last

Building Tampa Bay

Who We Are

Balfour Beatty Continues to Grow its Florida Buildings Legacy in Tampa Bay

Tampa, FL

Balfour Beatty’s operations continue to grow its presence through specialized and expert services in the delivery of premier projects in the flourishing city of Tampa, Florida.

Shaka Laka Shores

Tampa, FL

A family friendly attraction at Adventure Island water park, featuring a vibrant, tropical-themed splash pad with various interactive areas.

Building New Futures in Florida

Tampa, FL

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Henry Thacker Earnest DeLoach

Henry Thacker: A People-First Relentless Ally for Diverse Project Dreams

When Henry Thacker first set foot on the University of Florida (UF) campus, he didn’t have a clear vision for his future career path. After exploring potential majors in design and business, Henry found his home at UF’s Rinker School of Construction Management. Beyond the excitement of watching structures come to life, the construction industry offered Henry what he most desired out of a career–working in a people-oriented industry. Henry has achieved that dream at Balfour Beatty and so much more as he’s embodied the company’s people-first culture on projects across Florida.

Taking Risks, Blazing Trails, and Spreading the Wealth

For a moment in time, the dream was to become an astronaut – until Earnest DeLoach, Jr. started the third grade. He jumped at every chance to be heard between oratorical competitions, essay contests, and chatting with anyone who would listen. Earnest’s teachers always said he had the personality and characteristics to become a great lawyer one day – they were right.

Manor West River

Located in Tampa, Florida, this multifamily project will be built in the West River neighborhood along the Hillsborough River.

FL Multifamily Housing Buildings Active

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Shaka Laka Shores

Part of Adventure Island's largest expansion in 40 years, Shaka Laka Shores is a new splash and play zone for the park's youngest guests.

FL Buildings Complete

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Our Leadership

Brian Prebenda

Senior Vice President, Operations

Relentless Ally since 1999

A passionate and visionary leader, Brian has overseen an impressive portfolio exceeding $2.5 billion in local projects. He is dedicated to formulating and executing strategic initiatives that uphold operational excellence, aligning seamlessly with our clients' aspirations. As a relentless ally for our clients, Brian draws from a wealth of experience leading harmonized teams for aviation, education, hospitality and theme park attractions projects across Florida. Since joining Balfour Beatty in 1999, Brian has been instrumental in ensuring project success by providing oversight in all phases including procurement, execution and completion.

Bruce Capon

Senior Vice President, Business Acquisition

Relentless Ally since 1995

As leader of the business acquisition team in Florida, Bruce has more than 30 years of industry experience and is responsible for estimating and preconstruction. His previous contributions as head of Florida’s estimating department, in addition to providing oversight for both the estimating and preconstruction teams, have been an invaluable asset.

Chris Diaz

Vice President, Safety Health and Environmental

Relentless Ally since 2010

In his role, Chris Diaz has overseen safety for many projects in theming, medical, residential, commercial, corrections, hospitality, education, heavy industrial, fuel distribution and co-generation power plants. He is a member of the Common Ground Alliance and leading an industry-wide safety orientation and certificate program.

Earnest DeLoach, Jr.

Senior Vice President, Legal

Relentless Ally since 2018

As senior vice president, of legal, Earnest is responsible for all legal affairs for the Florida operations including contracting matters and litigation management and serves as the division's compliance officer. As a member of the Florida leadership team, Earnest functions as a strategic business partner in supporting Florida operations.

Haley Smith

Marketing Director

Relentless Ally since 2007

As the marketing director, Haley oversees the business acquisition, marketing, communications, future business planning, and opportunity development for the Southeast region. A proud recipient of the 2018 H. Gordon Wyllie, MCR, Young Leader of the Year award and a Bridges to Prosperity alum, Haley personifies the spirit of a multi-faceted leader. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Belmont University.

Henry Thacker

Director, Florida Special Projects Group

Relentless Ally since 2018

As Director Florida's Special Projects Group, Henry is a master of seamless project execution. With a focus on operational efficiency, he excels in managing fast-track projects without disruption. Advocating for each client, he delivers an unparalleled, people-centric experience. Henry's expertise in renovating corporate interiors, high-end resorts and active theme parks makes him a top industry expert, ensuring your project receives the finest guidance. Henry joined Balfour Beatty in 2018 on the Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando project, which transformed an aging attraction into a modern entertainment experience complete with immersive play areas, vibrantly themed rides, and one-of-a-kind interactive experiences based on the long-running children’s show.

Janice Lowery

Vice President, Controller

Relentless Ally since 2015

Janice is responsible for the accounting and budgetary oversight of Balfour Beatty's Florida business operations. Throughout her career, she has worked in several construction disciplines and brings a breadth of industry knowledge with experience in development, residential, road building and commercial construction. Janice champions the personal and professional growth of the financial profession across the industry through her long-time membership of CFMA. A Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional, Janice continues to set the standard of excellence in her role with Balfour Beatty.

John Harris

Executive Vice President, Business Unit Leader

Relentless Ally since 1999

As executive vice president and business unit leader, John creates and leads strategies in core markets and niche projects offering value-driven delivery strategies throughout the state. His many responsibilities include leading and supporting over 200 management employees through all stages of the project lifecycle – including client development, marketing, BIM services, pre-construction, and operations. An industry veteran, John brings more than two decades of experience exclusively at Balfour Beatty.

Neal Ernest

Vice President, Operations

Relentless Ally since 1999

As vice president of operations, Neal provides executive leadership and operational support to Balfour Beatty project teams in Central Florida and Tampa Bay. With a career spanning 25 years at Balfour Beatty, Neal excels at managing complex, multi-phased projects from preconstruction through turnover. Neal's reputation as a builder is grounded in his ability to drive out waste and inefficiency in the project life-cycle providing incredible value to his clients. Some of his most notable projects include Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando, Hyatt Regency Orlando, Lake Nona Pixon Apartments and University of Central Florida College of Medicine.

Scott Kimpel

Project Executive

Relentless Ally since 2022

A veteran in his field, Scott brings a decorated, 30-year history delivering large, complex projects across the United States. As the local leader of Balfour Beatty’s operations in Tampa Bay, Scott is focused on providing superior construction management services to our clients, bringing his strong relationships with the local subcontractor market and his proactive, hands-on approach to planning and execution. Providing unmatched local knowledge in the Tampa Bay area, his portfolio encompasses a variety of markets, from hospitality, entertainment to higher education, aviation to industrial and office. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University.

Scott Skidelsky

President, Southeast

Relentless Ally since 2012

As president of the company's Southeast operations, Scott Skidelsky is responsible for executive oversight, project acquisition, and business growth within Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Scott Skidelsky has spent more than two decades in the construction industry in a wide variety of leadership positions, serving clients across the United States throughout his career.

Well known for his unique ability to connect with and inspire teammates from all facets of the business, Scott is a Building Design + Construction “Forty Under 40” alumni and was named “Man of the Year” among the Forty Under 40 winners by the Orlando Business Journal in 2007.

Prior to his career in construction, Scott served in the United States Navy as an Officer in Charge of Construction and as a Contracting Officer. Scott also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois.

A loving husband and father, Scott celebrates three decades of marriage with his high school sweetheart and is a proud parent of two aspiring young professionals.

Tequesta DeSouza

Vice President, Human Resources

Relentless Ally since 2012

Tequesta DeSouza is an accomplished Vice President of Human Resources for the Southeast, renowned for her expertise in talent management, employee relations, change management, and coaching. As a trusted advisor and business partner, she collaborates with operations to develop strategies aimed at building exceptional teams and fostering a best-place-to-work culture. She is also the founder of Future Unleashed, LLC, a company dedicated to empowering young adults for successful careers. Recognized as a Power Leader in Human Resources by the South Florida Business Journal in 2016, Tequesta is esteemed for her professionalism and leadership. A member of the Society for Human Resource Management and a former president of the Human Resources Association of Broward County, she holds a Master’s in Human Resources from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University, along with prestigious HR certifications.

Willis Milner

Business Development Director

Relentless Ally since 2016

As business development director, Willis works with leadership to establish and nurture relationships with our clients and partners across the Central Florida region. He supports strategic planning, client development and project pursuits and has been instrumental in the company’s success as one of the top general contractors in Orlando. As a community ambassador, Willis serves on the Board of Trustees for the Academy of Construction Technologies (ACT), Board of Directors for the Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP) and the Orlando Economic Partnership’s Investor Relations Committee.

Contact Us

1000 North Ashley, Ste. 505
Tampa, FL 33602

407-226-9819

CGC1514969

General Information

Scott Skidelsky President, Southeast
407-226-9819

John Harris SVP, Business Unit Leader
407-226-9819

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