John Bartos

John Bartos (born June 6, 1940) is the founder and former president of Three Rivers Construction, the largest privately held construction company in Mid-Michigan. For forty years he has also been active in construction education and community involvement.

Early life He was born in June 1940, into a farming family in Midland County, Michigan, the 10th of 15 children. Ownership of the family farm dates back to 1892. He was named president there in 1971 and stayed until 1976 when he founded his own organization, Three Rivers Corporation. He partnered with Sandy, his wife, to grow to the company to over 400 employees in ten years developing a reputation for quality work on time and within budget.

Community Community involvement includes serving leadership positions at over 25 area and state organizations, including director of the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Midland Area Community Foundation. He is a trustee for the Michigan Baseball Foundation. Bartos was one of 14 members of the Midland Entryway Initiative Taskforce in 2000. Their goal was to create and place attractive signs at strategic locations around the city to help provide directions for visitors.

Awards and honors In 1993, Michigan Governor John Engler appointed Bartos to serve on the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration governing committee through 1998. Bartos received the 2004 Midland Tomorrow Award, given for outstanding contributions in Midland County that enhance quality of life, retain jobs and attract new investments. He was inducted into the Associated Builders and Contractors Founders Hall of Fame in 2018. John and his wife Sandy were named 2019 Philanthropists of the Year by the Midland Area Community Foundation Both received the Margaret Ann Riecker Meritorious Service Award from the Midland County Republican Party. Former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette commented, ""Both of them are so giving in terms of philanthropy, charity, education and community involvement."

Personal While in school, Haskell met Sandy Des Jardin, whom he married in 1964 and with whom he shared three children: Christopher, Pamela and Bruce. However, son Christopher passed in 2003.