Word On The Street

In this episode of Word on the Street, Mick Morrissey, Mark Goodale, and Katharine Van Leer sit down with Chad Brown, CEO of Thompson Holdings. Unlike many leaders in the AEC industry, Chad did not come up through engineering or architecture. Trained as an attorney, he spent more than two decades helping shape Thompson's governance, ownership structure, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), acquisitions, and long-term strategy before becoming CEO in 2025.

The conversation explores what leadership looks like from a nontraditional path, how employee ownership changes culture and decision-making, and why governance, patience, and long-term thinking are critical to sustainable growth. Chad also shares lessons learned from acquisitions, succession planning, community leadership, and growing a business from a regional engineering firm into a diversified family of companies.

Whether you're navigating leadership transitions, considering growth through acquisition, or looking to build a stronger ownership culture, this episode offers practical insights from a leader focused on creating lasting value for employees, clients, and communities.

0:00 Introduction and welcome
1:30 Chad Brown's path from attorney to CEO
4:10 Thinking like a lawyer vs. thinking like a leader
7:20 The value of outside boards and governance
10:15 Building a family of businesses beyond engineering
13:00 Source Toad and technology-driven growth
16:20 Eight-state strategy and regional expansion
18:30 What makes acquisitions successful
22:00 Governance as a growth tool
25:30 The power of employee ownership
29:00 Culture, ESOPs, and creating owners
33:00 Growth through recessions and economic cycles
36:00 Lessons from M&A integration
39:00 Why patience matters in leadership
41:30 Community impact and giving back
44:30 Building a culture of "Best Job Ever"
47:00 Word to the Wise: embracing unexpected opportunities

Subscribe to the WOTS Podcast: https://www.morrisseygoodale.com/word-on-the-street-podcast/

In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, Mick Morrissey, Mark Goodale, and Katharine Van Leer sit down with Frank Ricciardi, CEO of Weston & Sampson, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected employee-owned engineering firms.

Founded in 1899, Weston & Sampson has spent more than 125 years building a legacy of service, innovation, and community impact. Frank shares what it means to lead a firm with such deep roots while preparing it for the future through strategic growth, technology investment, and a commitment to employee ownership.

The conversation explores succession planning, leadership transitions, ESOP culture, AI adoption, organic growth, and the challenge of balancing long-term stewardship with the demands of a rapidly changing industry. Frank also discusses Weston & Sampson’s mission-driven approach to infrastructure, giving back through global community projects, and why people remain the most important investment any firm can make.

Whether you're leading an organization through growth, preparing the next generation of leaders, or navigating the future of engineering and infrastructure, this episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, culture, and long-term success.

0:00 Introduction and welcome
1:15 Leading a 125-year-old engineering firm
3:50 Stewardship, legacy, and accountability
5:20 Why people are at the center of Weston & Sampson
6:30 Preserving culture while embracing growth
7:30 How Frank uses AI as a CEO
10:15 Becoming CEO during the pandemic
12:00 Succession planning done right
14:40 Creating an authentic leadership style
16:30 From engineer to CEO: learning to make decisions
17:45 Leadership lessons from ACEC SEI
19:10 The journey to 100% ESOP ownership
21:15 Using employee ownership to attract talent
22:20 Rewarding top performers in an ESOP
23:30 Building the next generation of leaders
26:00 Strategic planning through multiple horizons
27:30 Investments that will pay off years from now
28:45 Organizational changes to support future growth
31:20 Lessons learned from an MWRA internship
32:45 Why technology has always been a differentiator
35:00 Expanding beyond the East Coast
36:00 Critical infrastructure and cybersecurity
37:15 Mission, vision, and sustainable growth
39:30 FICA and building infrastructure that changes lives
41:15 Why younger generations are redefining success
41:50 Word to the Wise

Subscribe to the WOTS Podcast: https://www.morrisseygoodale.com/word-on-the-street-podcast/

In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, Mick Morrissey, Mark Goodale, and Katharine Van Leer sit down with Steve McKay, CEO of DLR Group, to explore what it takes to lead one of the most respected employee-owned design firms in the industry. Steve shares his journey from growing up in Scotland and playing competitive rugby to building a 30-year career at DLR Group—culminating in his role as CEO. Along the way, he breaks down how teamwork, resilience, and leadership lessons from rugby shaped his approach to business, culture, and growth. The conversation dives into how DLR Group has successfully scaled while staying true to its employee-owned model, why global thinking is essential for modern design firms, and how leadership can create alignment across a distributed organization. Steve also offers thoughtful insights on the evolving role of AI in design, the importance of storytelling in architecture, and why human judgment and creativity will remain the ultimate differentiators. Whether you’re an industry leader or early in your career, this episode delivers practical perspective on building a meaningful, long-term career—not just a job.

0:00 Opening + guest introduction 1:30 Rugby, teamwork, and early lessons in leadership
4:20 From Scotland to the U.S. — a global journey
8:30 Joining DLR Group and early career growth
11:00 Understanding employee ownership
14:00 Becoming CEO and shaping firm-wide aspiration
18:20 The “rock band” leadership model
21:00 Scaling without losing culture
24:00 What employee ownership really looks like in practice
28:30 ESOP vs private equity — industry shifts
33:00 Talent, compensation, and changing workforce expectations
37:30 Global expansion and building a truly global firm
41:30 Why design still matters (more than ever)
45:00 AI in design — hype vs reality
49:30 The future of architecture firms and technology
53:00 Career advice: visibility and participation
56:00 Final thoughts and closing

What does it take to scale an engineering firm from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 people—without losing culture, performance, or purpose? In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, we’re joined by Jesse Kropelnicki, CEO of Verdantas (ENR #73), one of the fastest‑growing environmental and infrastructure consulting firms in the U.S. Jesse shares his unique journey from structural engineer to elite endurance sports coach—and how those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy. This wide‑ranging conversation explores how lessons from elite athletics apply directly to engineering leadership, including managing growth, building trust, giving effective feedback, navigating private equity, and preparing firms for AI and data transformation. Jesse also dives deep into culture, emotional intelligence, and why human skills—not technical knowledge alone—will define the future of AEC firms. Whether you’re leading a growing firm, managing teams, or thinking about the future of engineering work, this episode is packed with insight you can apply immediately.

In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, Mick Morrissey and Mark Goodale are joined by Katharine Van Leer, Senior Consultant at Morrissey Goodale, as she makes her debut as the newest member of the podcast team. Together, they discuss the forces shaping the AE industry today—from M&A activity and valuation trends to the growing influence of AI and private equity. The conversation explores market uncertainty, leadership transition, and why CEO‑only forums and peer connections are more important than ever as firms navigate rapid change.