Ron Scarpa: East End contractor got his start barefoot skiing

Ron Scarpa, 50, is president of Barefoot Brothers Construction. The name was inspired by his background as a world champion barefoot water skier. His company recently completed renovating East End Market, a former church where chefs, bakers, horticulturalists and other merchants lease space in what is becoming a cultural hub off Corrine Drive in Orlando.

CFB: What came first the barefoot water skiing or Barefoot Brothers Construction?

Barefoot water skiing, for sure. Growing up we moved to Winter Haven, Florida. I watched the water ski shows at Cypress Gardens. I either wanted to be a water skier or a snow skier.

CFB: Couldn't you have just taken up regular water skiing?

To me, the ultimate was barefoot water skiing. In Winter Haven, a lot of the neighborhood kids skied and it seemed like barefoot water skiing was the hardest.

CFB: Is there any corollary between construction and barefoot water skiing?

Yes -- there's very little money in both right now (laughter). If you're going to be successful in anything, it's not going to be easy. You have to have a good strategy in construction and I think that, if you're going to be successful in barefoot water skiing, you have to have the same thing.

CFB: What was your first job with Barefoot Brothers Construction?

We formed Barefoot Brothers in 2004. I had been traveling too much in water skiing, and one of my founding partners in the construction company was a ski buddy of mine. I had gotten married, and we had small children, and I said I'm not going to be able to do this travel.

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Ron Scarpa: East End contractor got his start barefoot skiing