L.B. Foster Names Rolli, Ness to Senior Posts
Effective November 1, 2026, Sara Rolli takes on Steel Products oversight while Robert Ness leads Precast Concrete Products.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
L.B. Foster Company's Board of Directors approved executive officer changes effective November 1, 2026. Sara Rolli was appointed Senior Vice President - Steel Products and Operational Excellence, and Robert Ness was appointed Senior Vice President - Precast Concrete Products.
Why it matters
The reshuffle gives Robert Ness additional bandwidth to focus on growth initiatives for the Precast Concrete business unit. Rolli's expanded role adds operational oversight of the Steel Products business unit within the Infrastructure segment.
The appointments take effect November 1, 2026, and Sara Rolli, who is 45, has held the Senior Vice President - Operational Administration role since 2025. Robert Ness ceases to serve as Senior Vice President - Infrastructure segment on the same date.
The players
L.B. Foster Company
A Pittsburgh-based infrastructure company that supplies rail, precast concrete and steel products for transportation and utility markets.
Sara Rolli
A Waynesburg University graduate who has spent over a decade in quality and operational leadership roles at L.B. Foster.
Robert Ness
A longtime L.B. Foster executive who previously led the Infrastructure segment and now heads the Precast Concrete Products business unit.
Bill Thalman
L.B. Foster's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, to whom both Rolli and Ness report.
The details
Sara Rolli will continue to report to Bill Thalman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and retains her existing Quality, EHS and Continuous Improvement functions. Robert Ness will also continue to report to Thalman while leading the Precast Concrete Products business unit.
Timeline
2013 - 2015: Sara Rolli served as Site Quality Manager.
2015 - 2017: Sara Rolli served as Senior Quality Manager.
2019 - 2023: Sara Rolli served as Director of Quality.
2023 - 2025: Sara Rolli served as VP - Operational Administration.
November 1, 2026: Executive officer changes take effect for Rolli and Ness.
Market Landscape
The move reflects a leadership structure built around distinct product lines inside L.B. Foster's Infrastructure segment, where rail, steel and precast concrete businesses compete for capital and customers. Assigning separate senior vice presidents to Steel and Precast sharpens accountability within each unit as the company manages its infrastructure portfolio.
Customers of L.B. Foster's steel and precast products may see continuity in operations as the same Chief Operating Officer oversees both new appointments. The reporting structure is unchanged, so day-to-day supplier and project relationships are expected to remain stable.
The takeaway
Leadership reshuffles that keep reporting lines intact often signal operational continuity rather than strategic upheaval. Watching how each newly appointed executive handles their expanded remit will show whether the segment's business-unit model delivers the focus management intends.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage tied to Pittsburgh business leadership moves.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
