Chapter: Akron-Canton
Name: Marvilla Miller
Company: Barbicas Construction Co. Inc.
Position: Controller
With the lengthy list of responsibilities that local chapter leaders must manage, Marvilla Miller’s work and life experiences make her the right person to chair OCA’s Akron-Canton Chapter. Miller, a 13-year veteran of Barbicas Construction Co. Inc., brought more than 30 years of professional work experience to the Akron-based asphalt contractor, where she began as an office manager before becoming the company’s controller in 2016. “I started working at an early age,” she said. “Babysitting, farming, hauling water to fill cisterns and pools, changing filters in commercial air systems, and I worked in a chemical plant all before the age of 18—while still being active in school activities and my church.”
While her post-high school experience as an owner/operator of a beauty salon, co-managing a division for Kmart Corp., and working with other retailers made her a positive addition to Barbicas Construction’s staff, Miller admits she wasn’t finished growing professionally. “I had lots of experience in management; however, there was so much I did not know. So, with a large learning curve, I set out to learn as much as I could about the industry and the position,” she said.
Miller also admits there was a much shorter learning curve when it came to seeing if joining OCA in 2016 was the right decision for the company. “When Barbicas first joined OCA, we were reluctant because we didn’t know if OCA was a good fit for Barbicas. We decided early it was a great decision. The opportunity to be part of this organization has given us a wealth of information and the opportunity to build business relationships and personal friendships.”
As chair of the Akron-Canton Chapter, Miller continues her long-time service and dedication to her native Northeast Ohio area. As a member of North Benton Presbyterian Church, she has participated in the choir and served as a deacon and youth group president and director. One of her goals as local chapter chair is to continue that stewardship. “We have been giving back to the communities in which we work,” she said, listing the group’s volunteering efforts, which include working with the local food bank and annual community projects such as those with the Boy Scouts of America, Camp Christopher, and Richfield Heritage Reserve.
“We still find time for fun,” Miller added. “We have golf outings, sport shooting events, and holiday parties, all of which benefit our scholarship fund.”
Chapter: Cleveland
Name: Nicole Klesta
Company: The Ruhlin Co.
Position: Project Controls Specialist
When it comes to making an impact locally, the Cleveland Chapter members and Chairperson Nicole Klesta are succeeding swimmingly. “My favorite part of being involved is being able to make a difference in the local community … I love watching us being able to make a difference that is close to home,” said Klesta, who this summer moved into the role of Project Controls Specialist for The Ruhlin Co. after serving as an assistant project manager for the Sharon Center-based contractor.
A 10-year member of Ohio’s heavy/highway construction industry, Klesta joined The Ruhlin Co. in 2023. The University of Toledo graduate became interested in construction through a job shadowing experience with an engineering company in high school. “… I knew I had to be a part of that work,” she said. “Although design work was not for me, I thrived when it came to building the work and teaching others about construction and the opportunities available throughout.”
Klesta, who is leading the Cleveland Chapter for the third year, has joined her fellow chapter members in promoting career opportunities in the construction industry. “While being a part of the Cleveland Chapter, I helped form a relationship with the Scouts of America, and we’ve partnered with them for a summer camp to allow scouts to get hands-on experience with different trades.” Along with working with the Scouts’ “Tough as Nails” program, Klesta said the chapter teamed with the Footpath Foundation this year for its first service project since COVID. The Footpath Foundation works to promote personal growth in children through activities in nature.
A proponent of personal growth herself, Klesta, a lifelong swimmer, has recently renewed her relationship with the pool—not as a competitor as in her youth, but as a way to start her day. “I was an avid swimmer growing up and held state titles throughout my high school career,” she said. “Swimming taught me time management and leadership skills that I strive to continue in my career … I recently started swimming again in the mornings before work, which helps me start my day with a clear mindset.”
Klesta is also active outside the construction industry. “I’m involved with the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. I enjoy attending and leading events through this organization, as any young professional in the Cleveland area can join. This allows for connections that might not come through construction-based events.”
Chapter: Columbus
Name: Brent Poston
Company: George J. Igel & Co. Inc.
Position: Senior Manager, Construction
Operations
Brent Poston’s continual involvement and dedication to his hometown mirrors his involvement in the OCA Columbus Chapter. A native and resident of Amanda, located 35 minutes southeast of Columbus, Poston divides his time among his growing family, his work as a senior manager of Construction Operations at George J. Igel & Co., youth athletic programs in his hometown, and serving as OCA Columbus Chapter Chair.
A 16-year veteran of the Columbus-based company, Poston had a similarly busy schedule growing up, balancing work on his grandparents’ farms, helping in the family’s residential drywall company, and participating in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and athletics. He believes these experiences helped shape his career path and prepared him for his current roles.
“These activities taught me work ethic and the basic life skills that our industry needs,” said Poston, who earned an associate’s degree in construction management from Columbus State Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business from Franklin University. “The sporting programs I was involved with taught me that hard work and dedication could still result in a state runner-up title for football, rather than a state championship—not once but twice during my high school timeframe. There is no doubt about it, the activities I was involved with at an early age helped shape my career path toward the construction industry.”
Soon after joining George J. Igel & Co., Poston became involved in OCA. “Igel’s leadership has always promoted OCA and encouraged employees to get involved. My favorite OCA event early in my career was Forecast Night, and this year marked the second year of emceeing the event at COSI for the Columbus Chapter. It’s a humbling experience to see the young professionals sitting in the room engaged with the speakers, just like I was 10 years ago,” said Poston, who has served on the chapter’s Executive Committee since 2016.
Along with his responsibilities as Columbus Chapter chair, Poston is heavily involved with his three children’s activities. “Organizations outside of work are important for community support,” he said. “My wife, Linsey, and I both serve on a board for the baseball/softball little league in Amanda. We also both are involved with coaching our kids’ teams and heavily support the program year-round. I am taking on the role of President for the 2025 season for our league—and I am excited for the challenge.”
Chapter: Dayton
Name: Dennis I. Goecke II
Company: Ernst Concrete
Position: Corporate Sales Representative
Stumbling onto concrete is never good, but for Dennis Goecke, it wasn’t a hard landing at all.
The 2024 OCA Dayton Chapter Chair celebrated his 22nd year with Dayton-based Ernst Concrete Co. in August. A Corporate Sales Representative with a bachelor’s degree in education from Wright State University, Goecke says that learning and working in the concrete industry has been an education in itself.
“I knew nothing about the industry at the time, but loved the fact it was different every day,” Goecke said of joining Ernst Concrete as a concrete mixer driver for the company’s Valley Division in 2002. “I enjoyed driving up to a clean slate of ground, and within a few days, the canvas transformed into a living space for a family, a new office space for a company, or a pavilion for a park.”
Prior to his current role, Goecke served as a sales representative for 15 years with Ernst Concrete’s Troy Division. He became involved with OCA’s Dayton Chapter five years ago. “When I was promoted to Corporate Sales back in 2019, I was asked to join the OCA Executive Committee,” he said. “Since then, I have helped the committee with organizing member outings, university student project site visits, and now organizing my first community service project as committee chair.”
Goecke credits his many interests growing up for helping him take on a leadership role at the local OCA level. “Everything I did required hard work and steadfastness—from my schoolwork, graduating with National Honors Society, to sports, music, and being accepted into college. With that kind of upbringing, I knew that whatever I chose to do would require me to constantly push myself and do my best. Even though I stumbled into the Ready-Mix industry, I continued to apply those life lessons to my career.”
While Goecke believes that OCA’s offerings of education and training seminars, as well as project forecasting meetings, are the most beneficial to the industry, his goal as Dayton Chapter chair is to provide members with community outreach efforts and social activities. “We’ve had one student jobsite visit to the new Trebein Road/Valley Road/U.S. (Route) 35 Interchange project with Eagle Bridge (Co.), and I’m hopeful to accomplish our community service project in Beavercreek, as well as host our OCA golf outing at Walden Ponds.”