Jostin Construction’s groundbreaking gala achieves milestone 

ContributedThe 2024 Spirit of Construction Gala, held on Oct. 19, marked a historic evening for the tristate area’s construction industry. Jostin Construction, led by Liza and Albert Smitherman, proudly served as the first minority-owned business to chair the prestigious event. This year’s gala set records, raising $1.1 million and drawing 1,200 attendees — making it the most successful event in the gala’s history. The evening also featured the support of 20 Big Impact sponsors, including Valley Interior Systems, and Lithko Contracting. The funds raised will benefit the Spirit of Construction Foundation, which provides scholarships to students pursuing degrees in construction-related fields such as construction management and civil engineering. To date, the Foundation has contributed over $550,000 in scholarships to 175 students attending the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State, and Northern Kentucky University. In addition to scholarships, the Foundation also supports education-based grants, with over $1.1 million raised in the past five years alone to fund these impactful programs. The success of the event was a testament to the collaborative efforts of many, including Tony Brunsman, Executive Director of the Spirit of Construction Gala, Joe Rigotti, Creative Director, and The Big Idea Group, which served as the marketing concierge, working alongside...