Bancroft Construction enters new era as Mike Petka succeeds retiring president & CEO Greg Sawka

Award-winning regional construction manager celebrates 50th Anniversary

Wilmington, DE — Bancroft Construction has announced a leadership transition that honors the company’s proud history and bright future. After 25 years 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 history 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 River 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, professionalism, 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 forward while expanding Bancroft’s reach and reputation.

Sawka joined Bancroft Construction 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 president of Preconstruction, and ultimately president & CEO. Under his leadership, Sawka grew the company into a regional construction manager 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 successful completion of the $250 Million Longwood Reimagined 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 consecutive years, an unprecedented accomplishment within the construction industry.

“I’ve truly enjoyed working with colleagues who share an unwavering passion for construction excellence and continued 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 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 personal 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 professional achievements, Sawka has contributed to the broader community as a board member 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 president & 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 Preconstruction, and most recently, VP of Operations. Along the way, Petka has led diverse and complex projects across cultural, institutional, healthcare, K-12, and higher education sectors. His successfully managed projects include the Longwood Gardens Main Fountain Garden Revitalization, Longwood Gardens East Conservatory Plaza, the ChristianaCare Freestanding Emergency Department, and the PS DuPont Middle School. His focus on client satisfaction, cost control, and schedule management has earned him lasting partnerships with clients and stakeholders alike. As a senior leader, Petka drives strategic initiatives that advance Bancroft’s utilization of technology and Lean processes, enhancing efficiency across the company.

“Throughout his 25-year tenure at Bancroft, Mike has made a transformative impact to our interdepartmental processes, culture, and leadership,” said Sawka. “I couldn’t be more excited to see how Bancroft continues to grow and innovate under his leadership as president & CEO.”

A graduate of the University of Delaware (UD) with a degree in Civil Engineering, Petka serves on the Executive Board of the Delaware Contractors Association and on the External Advisors Group to the College of Civil Engineering at UD. He has previously served as a Board Member for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Delaware.

“We’re celebrating a major milestone of 50 years in business due to the exceptional leadership of both Stephen Mockbee and Greg Sawka,” said Petka. “I’m honored to take on the role of president & CEO and to work with a talented team as we forge ahead into the next chapter of Bancroft Construction.”

About Bancroft Construction:

Bancroft Construction is an award-winning, Mid-Atlantic construction management firm servicing clients throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. For 50 years, Bancroft has taken great pride in building not only physical structures, but also long-standing relationships. Bancroft commits to a partnership approach for all projects it manages from major developments to revitalizing world-renowned cultural landmarks. Centered on bettering our community, Bancroft supports clients from concept to completion with solutions in program management, estimating, construction management, owner’s representation, virtual design & construction, and sustainability.