Saunders Constr., Inc.

Brad Marsh leads Saunders Construction’s Safety and Human Resources (HR) and departments as vice president of Safety & HR. Marsh is charged with oversight of safety, compliance, talent management and retention, recruitment strategies, training and development programs, and benefit administration. As part of his role, he promotes accountability, engagement and commitment to Saunders’ culture and provides leadership for the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Marsh brings over 20 years of experience in HR across several different markets. His diverse background allows for new insight on how to improve benefits to meet the current talent market and differentiate from industry competitors. His results-based approach to management is driven by casual collaboration and employee-led initiatives. Under Marsh’s leadership, Saunders has been named a Top Workplace by The Denver Post and ranked no. 19 in the Association for Talent Development’s (ATD) BEST Awards program.

Marsh holds a degree in business administration from Colorado State University.

Dave Sandlin is president of Saunders Heath, a Saunders Construction subsidiary. Sandlin is a true construction professional with over 30 years of industry experience.

As President of Saunders Heath, he is charged with supporting the growth of the company and continuously advancing the environment of professionalism and collaboration. He oversees all aspects of Saunders Heath’s operations, including preconstruction, construction and business development activities.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Colorado State University. Sandlin’s expertise stems from the delivery of complex, diverse projects and leading both small and large project teams.

David Martino leads the company’s accounting and finance departments as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Martino has a diverse background of experience including work in public accounting, residential construction, resort, and oil and gas industries prior to Saunders Construction.

A Certified Public Accountant, Martino has a keen ability to develop accomplished and exceptional accounting teams through employee empowerment and engagement, all while maximizing return to investors through continued focus on process improvement.

Martino holds a Bachelor of Accounting from Illinois State University. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Good Shepherd Catholic Church and School, and a committee member of Saunders’ Building Confidence in Kids charity program.

Dick Saunders founded Saunders Construction in 1972. Dick also lends much of his time to help serve and better the communities in which we live and work. He serves on numerous boards, focusing on children, education and mental health. He is a long-time supporter of various organizations and civic functions, such as the Associated General Contractors of America, Mental Health America of Colorado, Colorado Ballet, Colorado UPLIFT, Kempe Children’s Foundation and many more.

As vice president, Graham Coddington focuses on strategic market opportunities, from inception to completion, ensuring successful project operations and a positive client experience.

Additionally, Coddington supports Saunders Commercial Development as an extension of Saunders’ construction operations. This integration provides seamless transition and a thoughtful approach to maximizing clients’ investments. He also provides corporate oversight for Saunders’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Coddington’s vast knowledge of industry trends is anchored by his more than 15 years of experience as a design phase and preconstruction leader. He is a registered Professional Engineer and sits on the board for the Associated General Contractors of Colorado.

As CEO and chairman of Sanders Construction, Inc., Greg Schmidt is responsible for enterprise-wide strategy and stability, developing long-term goals and driving results that are aligned with Saunders’ overall mission. He focuses on profitable and sustainable growth while supporting the company’s culture of safety, employee engagement, client experience and community involvement.

Schmidt joined Saunders in 1994 as an estimator. Over the years, he has held several positions including project manager, preconstruction manager, director of business development, senior vice president and president, a role he assumed in 2011. In 2015, the president and CEO roles were combined and Schmidt has served in that capacity from 2015 to 2020.

Schmidt is involved in several business associations and charitable organizations including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Board, University of Colorado Boulder Construction Engineering and Management Industry Advisory Board, Boy Scouts of America Denver Area Council Trustee, University of Colorado Real Estate Foundation, ACE Scholarships Advisory Board, the Young President’s Organization – Gold, and Colorado Concern Board.

Justin Cooper serves as president of Saunders Construction, LLC and Saunders Express, LLC, and is responsible for overall leadership and results for the company’s Denver-based construction operations. He is charged with leading company-wide strategic business planning and initiatives — working closely with corporate functions and operations to optimize resources to meet internal goals and client expectations.

Cooper has 21 years of construction industry experience and joined Saunders in 2016. Over the years, he’s served in project development, preconstruction, construction management and corporate leadership roles on multiple large-scale, complex projects across the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions.

Cooper is an active member of the community and serves on the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the Denver Metro Chamber of Economic Development Corporation and the Volunteers of America Colorado Branch Board of Directors.

Ryan Balakas is vice president of Saunders Construction, overseeing its Express and Healthcare Services operations. Within this work program, Balakas provides strategic direction and continuous improvement for project procurement, planning and execution, and client experience.

In addition, Balakas oversees the organization’s integrated technologies group (ITG).

Balakas is a relationship-focused leader — starting in the industry as an assistant carpenter and working his way up to his current position. Balakas’ aptitude for client engagement and project management, paired with his ability to lead by example has positioned him as an invaluable member of the Saunders leadership team.

Balakas is an active member in the community, having participated in programs through Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Metro Leadership Foundation, and Associated General Contractors of Colorado. Additionally, he serves on the board for the Littleton Adventist Hospital Foundation, Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, and University of Colorado Denver Construction Engineering Management advisory board. In 2017, he was named a Top 20 under 40 Design & Construction professional by Engineering News-Record (ENR).

Tom Alford is senior vice president of Saunders Construction, LLC, overseeing all large, Denver-based work acquisition, design/preconstruction phase management and construction operations. He is also charged with strategic oversight and direction for Saunders’ self-performed commercial concrete services and wholly-owned equipment subsidiary.

Through his leadership in construction management and enterprise-wide strategy, Alford has been an integral part of structuring operational excellence at Saunders. His responsibilities also include corporate oversight of general superintendents, quality control and warranty, scheduling, and contract administration.

Alford’s 27 years of industry experience are rooted in his hands-on involvement — providing him a unique understanding of field operations. He has held several roles throughout his career ranging from project engineer and superintendent to preconstruction manager. Alford is a Registered Professional Engineer and LEED Accredited Professional.

He is an active member on the Good Samaritan Medical Center Foundation Board and the University of Colorado Denver College of Construction Engineering and Management Advisory Board.