OUR TEAM
Thomas A. Hodgin
President / RME
Thomas A. Hodgin serves as the President and Responsible Managing Employee (RME) of Ironcore Construction LLC, overseeing all operations, including quality control and assurance policies. With over 30 years of experience in the architectural and construction industries, Mr. Hodgin is trained as an architect and is also a licensed General Contractor.
Prior to joining Ironcore, Mr. Hodgin managed and commissioned projects across all phases of development, with a strong background in multi-family low-income affordable housing. Most recently, as the Senior Director of Construction/RME at Jamboree Housing Corporation, he oversaw pre-construction and construction for more than 30 projects valued at over $900 million. Previously, he was the Owner and President of the Design and Entitlement division of Palm Communities, a leading affordable housing developer, where he managed all facets of development for affordable multifamily and mixed-use projects, successfully entitling, designing, bidding, and constructing over 20 projects.
In addition to his development experience and general contractor’s license, Mr. Hodgin is in the process of becoming a licensed architect and a Certified Access Specialist (CASP). He holds a technical degree in architecture from the Phoenix Institute of Technology and a business degree from the University of Phoenix.
John Baxter
Preconstruction Director
John Baxter, the Preconstruction Director, brings over a decade of experience to Ironcore. His role involves coordinating estimating efforts and maintaining project budgets through close collaboration with architects and engineers. With a background spanning private, public, and federal sectors, John's experience includes project coordination and strategic planning. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an A.S. in Business Administration.
Karen Hamilton
Estimator
Karen Hamilton, an Estimator, leverages over a decade of construction industry experience. Her background in civil engineering, design facilitation, and estimating adds depth to her role. She accurately scopes project work, aiding in cost projections and budgeting. Karen holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a certification in The Science and Art of Negotiation.
Dani Tiffany-Schaefer
Senior Project Manager
Dani Tiffany-Schaefer joined the Ironcore team with more than 27 years in the Construction Industry. She began her career in Arizona, building ground-up commercial spaces, hotels, and multifamily buildings before relocating back to Southern California in the San Diego area. She found a passion for the multifamily sector and has been involved in several upscale projects such as SOHO Live/Work/Play in Scottsdale, AZ, Rosedale Residence in Phoenix, AZ, and Urban Edge in San Diego, CA. Before joining Ironcore, Mrs. Schaefer was the lead Project Manager for a $112 million - 480-unit community in Chula Vista. This 15-acre site included (4) four-story buildings and (4) three-story buildings, all wood-framed and slab-on-grade. She led all onsite Project Management operational activities.
Mike Debbas
Senior Project Manager
With over 30 years of experience in real estate development and construction, Mike Debbas brings a comprehensive and strategic approach to his role as Senior Project Manager at Ironcore. Mike has held leadership positions including Project Manager and Senior Asset Manager, most notably with Capstone Advisors, where he oversaw budgets, business plans, cost controls, and return-on-investment reports while managing partnerships with developers. His prior experience includes project management roles with Sun Country Builders and MDF Consultants. Mike’s expertise spans the full lifecycle of multifamily and commercial projects — from acquisitions and ground-up construction to reconditioning and closeout. He has managed a wide range of developments, including tilt-up industrial buildings, custom homes, retail centers, and multi-phase master-planned communities ranging from 200 to 2,000 units. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Real Estate.
Greg Marcon
Senior Project Manager
Greg Marcon is a seasoned Senior Project Manager with over 25 years of industry experience across a wide range of project types and leadership roles. His expertise spans both preconstruction planning and full-scale construction operations. Greg has held senior positions with major firms such as DR Horton, Framemax, Intracorp, and Chateau Group USA. In these roles, he has overseen large-scale residential and mixed-use developments, including luxury townhomes and innovative urban communities. His leadership experience includes serving as Vice President of Purchasing at DR Horton, Vice President of Construction & Operations at Framemax North America, Director of Purchasing at Intracorp, and Director of Construction at Chateau Group USA. Greg earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from San Diego State University, enabling him to lead with both operational excellence and strategic foresight.
Saralyz Aguilar Ramirez
Assistant Project Manager
Saralyz Aguilar Ramirez, an Assistant Project Manager, combines a decade of industry experience with a strong educational foundation. With a B.S. in Civil Engineering and specialized diplomas, she has proven her prowess in managing medium to large-scale projects. Her portfolio includes impressive single-family homes and condominiums, highlighting her comprehensive project management skills.
Nathan Teng
Assistant Project Manager
Nathan Teng serves as an Assistant Project Manager at Ironcore Construction, where he brings a strong engineering background and hands-on experience in structural design and project execution. He holds a B.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and an Associate’s degree in Physics from Riverside Community College. Prior to joining Ironcore, Nathan worked as a Project Engineer at ClarkDietrich Engineering in Carlsbad, CA, where he contributed to over 70 commercial, educational, hospitality, military, and multifamily projects. Nathan is proficient in a range of technical tools, including AutoCAD, Bluebeam, RISA-2D, Revit, and Microsoft Office Suite. His precision and adaptability support the successful coordination and execution of large-scale construction projects.
Audie Aker
General Superintendent
With an impressive 45-year career in Construction Management, Audie Aker leads Ironcore Construction as the General Superintendent. His expertise spans multifamily housing, schools, hotels, and retail construction. He consistently ensures on-time, on-budget, and high-quality project completions. Audie's oversight includes construction demolition, scheduling, site safety, bidding, and budgeting. Noteworthy projects encompass large-scale housing developments, hospitals, and affordable multifamily units.
Leon Balistreri
Superintendent
Leon Balistreri is a superintendent at Ironcore Construction. Upon joining the team, he is backed with over 35 years of experience in the industry His experience makes him equipped to oversee the onsite coordination of safety programs, site work and scheduling efforts for Ironcore. His experience includes Single Family homes, Multi Family buildings, and running his own company within the industry. Leon has worked with many companies including Greystar, Western National Group, and Segue Construction. Leon specializes in supervising all subcontractors, overall job communications, SWPP implementation and supervisions as well as maintaining overall job quality. Prior to Ironcore Construction, Mr. Balistreri has completed multi-family jobs with budgets as extensive as $450 million.
Aric Ross
Superintendent
Aric Ross, a seasoned Superintendent, brings nearly 15 years of industry experience to his role. Armed with a BS in Construction Management, Aric adeptly oversees site safety, schedules, and subcontractor quality, collaborating with all team members to maintain project timelines and standards. His journey began in Portland, OR, working on vintage home preservation and eventually progressing to projects like North View Pointe, a $34 million, 67-unit slab-on-grade construction, and Salvatore Apartments, a $28 million, two-story stick-frame project. Aric holds A.S. and B.S. degrees from Vermont Technical College.
Kris Jaghasbanian
Superintendent
Kris Jaghasbanian brings over 38 years of experience in the construction industry to his role as Superintendent at Ironcore Construction. He is well-versed in supervising field operations, coordinating and executing construction plans, and ensuring full compliance with OSHA safety standards. Kris holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Structural Engineering from Seattle University and has worked on projects across both the United States and South Korea. His previous experience includes working with respected firms such as West Builders, JSM Construction, AMCAL Construction, and Roem Builders. With his deep technical knowledge and international perspective, Kris ensures efficient site operations and a culture of safety and precision.