<![CDATA[AEC GrowthCast]]>The AEC GrowthCast from PSMJ Resources, Inc., is the fast-paced, action-oriented podcast built for architecture, engineering, and construction firm leaders who want results. Each episode cuts through the noise with practical strategies, insider insights, and proven tools you can put to work right away to drive growth, boost profitability, and strengthen leadership. No theory, no fluff—just high-impact conversations and takeaways from the experts who know what works in today’s competitive AEC market.

]]>https://www.psmj.com/Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Wed, 27 May 2026 09:31:00 GMTWed, 03 Dec 2025 19:18:29 GMT60PSMJ Resources<p>The AEC GrowthCast from PSMJ Resources, Inc., is the fast-paced, action-oriented podcast built for architecture, engineering, and construction firm leaders who want results. Each episode cuts through the noise with practical strategies, insider insights, and proven tools you can put to work right away to drive growth, boost profitability, and strengthen leadership. No theory, no fluff—just high-impact conversations and takeaways from the experts who know what works in today’s competitive AEC market.</p>episodicPSMJ Resourcesmmcelaney@psmj.comno<![CDATA[When Three Becomes One: The Lynk Engineers Success Story (Ep. 5)]]>Spectrum Engineers, Colvin Engineering, and Envision Engineering have merged to form Lynk Engineers. The merger combines the expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering developed by the Salt Lake City-based firms, each with well over 30 years in business. PSMJ Resources represented all three firms in the merger. President Gregory Hart speaks with Lynk Engineers Senior Principal/Executive Advisor Dave Wesemann and PSMJ Resources Senior M&A Consultant Karl Wohler about the transaction and how they collaborated together.

2026 AE Compensation Benchmark Results availble now: https://go.psmj.com/2026-ae-mgmt-staff-comp-benchmark-model?UTM=youtube

Not a PSMJ PRO member? Get access to the latest quarterly market forecast here: Networking & Collaboration Platform for AEC Professionals

Book of the Month: Build Your AEC Dream Team https://store.psmj.com/product/psmj-publications/books/build-your-aec-dream-team/

Takeaways

  • Compensation alone does not attract or retain top talent; career development and achievement opportunities matter more
  • Recruiting must be treated as a firm-wide priority, not just an HR function; senior leadership involvement signals commitment
  • Build robust internship and junior talent development programs now to ensure mid-level and senior talent pipelines in 5–10 years
  • Focus on "boomerang" candidates—mid-career professionals who left but may return; some firms see 6-month follow-up surveys with high re-engagement rates
  • Candidate experience must be treated with the same professionalism and responsiveness as client experience
  • In challenging labor markets (rural or expensive urban), get creative with non-salary benefits (housing assistance, ski passes, community engagement, college partnerships)
  • Continuous recruiting—maintain active job postings and resume reviews even when not actively hiring

Chapters

1:34 Metric of the Month

4:58 Intro to Dave Wesemann and Karl Wohler

6:26 The Story of Three Firms

8:49 Bring the Deal Killers to the 1st Conversation

12:56 Navigating Org Charts & Compensation

16:06 Lynk Branding

17:19 How to Get Employees & Shareholders to Buy In

18:41 Would Wesemann Merge Again?

20:25 Rallying the Depatments for a New Firm

21:57 Navigating Disagreements with PSMJ's Assistance

23:58 Clients' Response & How to Reassure Them

26:04 The Value of In-Person Collaboration (at the Red Sox)

27:38 The PSMJ Way

30:19 Five Minute Fix

35:55 Book of the Month

Host: Gregory Hart

Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, JB Keefe, Molly McElaney


Editor: Molly McElaney

Special thanks to Dave Wesemann, Karl Wohler, and Riverside FM!

]]>e8896e0b-21bd-42e5-87ee-c37c436a8b04Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p><b>Spectrum Engineers, Colvin Engineering,</b> and <b>Envision Engineering</b> have merged to form <b>Lynk Engineers</b>. The merger combines the expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering developed by the Salt Lake City-based firms, each with well over 30 years in business. PSMJ Resources represented all three firms in the merger. President Gregory Hart speaks with Lynk Engineers Senior Principal/Executive Advisor Dave Wesemann and PSMJ Resources Senior M&amp;A Consultant Karl Wohler about the transaction and how they collaborated together.</p><p></p><p>2026 AE Compensation Benchmark Results availble now: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://go.psmj.com/2026-ae-mgmt-staff-comp-benchmark-model" target="_blank">https://go.psmj.com/2026-ae-mgmt-staff-comp-benchmark-model</a>?UTM=youtube</p><p></p><p>Not a PSMJ PRO member? Get access to the latest quarterly market forecast here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership" target="_blank">Networking &amp; Collaboration Platform for AEC Professionals</a></p><p></p><p>Book of the Month: <i>Build Your AEC Dream Team</i> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://store.psmj.com/product/psmj-publications/books/build-your-aec-dream-team/" target="_blank">https://store.psmj.com/product/psmj-publications/books/build-your-aec-dream-team/</a></p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Compensation alone does not attract or retain top talent; career development and achievement opportunities matter more</li><li>Recruiting must be treated as a firm-wide priority, not just an HR function; senior leadership involvement signals commitment</li><li>Build robust internship and junior talent development programs now to ensure mid-level and senior talent pipelines in 5–10 years</li><li>Focus on "boomerang" candidates—mid-career professionals who left but may return; some firms see 6-month follow-up surveys with high re-engagement rates</li><li>Candidate experience must be treated with the same professionalism and responsiveness as client experience</li><li>In challenging labor markets (rural or expensive urban), get creative with non-salary benefits (housing assistance, ski passes, community engagement, college partnerships)</li><li>Continuous recruiting—maintain active job postings and resume reviews even when not actively hiring</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><p>1:34 Metric of the Month</p><p>4:58 Intro to Dave Wesemann and Karl Wohler</p><p>6:26 The Story of Three Firms</p><p>8:49 Bring the Deal Killers to the 1st Conversation</p><p>12:56 Navigating Org Charts &amp; Compensation</p><p>16:06 Lynk Branding</p><p>17:19 How to Get Employees &amp; Shareholders to Buy In</p><p>18:41 Would Wesemann Merge Again?</p><p>20:25 Rallying the Depatments for a New Firm </p><p>21:57 Navigating Disagreements with PSMJ's Assistance</p><p>23:58 Clients' Response &amp; How to Reassure Them</p><p>26:04 The Value of In-Person Collaboration (at the Red Sox)</p><p>27:38 The PSMJ Way</p><p>30:19 Five Minute Fix</p><p>35:55 Book of the Month</p><p></p><p>Host: Gregory Hart<br /></p><p>Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, JB Keefe, Molly McElaney</p><p><br />Editor: Molly McElaney<br /><br />Special thanks to Dave Wesemann, Karl Wohler, and Riverside FM!</p>no00:40:4315When Three Becomes One: The Lynk Engineers Success Story (Ep. 5)full<![CDATA[Designing Modern Learning Organizations: Rethinking AEC Learning & Development in Age of AI (Ep. 4)]]>In this episode, Christopher Parsons, Founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, offers a vision for transforming your AEC firm into a Modern Learning Organization—one that continuously captures, shares, and scales expertise even as projects grow more complex, experienced professionals retire, and AI reshapes the field.

Christopher joins host and PSMJ President Gregory Hart with real-world examples of how leading AEC firms are accelerating knowledge transfer through curated learning paths, expert-led video, modular content, hybrid instructional models, and AI-powered search. You'll discover practical patterns for blending on-demand education, social learning, and emerging AI agents into a system that makes your entire organization smarter and more adaptive.

Whether you're facing a wave of retirements, siloed expertise, generational shifts, or wondering how AI will change your firm, this session delivers concrete next steps—and helps leaders walk away with clarity on where to start and how to design an organization that keeps learning no matter what the future brings.

Learn more about Christopher Parsons and Knowledge Architecture: https://www.knowledge-architecture.com Learn more about PSMJ's AEC TalentMAX Conference: https://www.psmj.com/talentmax

Book of the Month: https://go.psmj.com/the-value-pricing-imperative-for-design-firms

Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more: http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership

Chapters

1:11 Metric of the Month

5:27 Who is Christopher Parsons?

6:57 The History of Knowledge Management

9:41 The Hourglass Org Chart

11:47 The Evolution of Knowledge Management

15:00 AI's Role in Knowledge Management

16:47 Learning and Development in AEC Firms

20:05 Project Management and Knowledge Transfer

22:29 Generational Shifts and Business Design

24:11 Strategies for Effective Knowledge Transfer

29:05 The Role of Operations in Knowledge Management 31:15 AEC TalentMAX 2026

32:42 The Future of Knowledge Management and AI Integration

35:52 Anthropic Spider Plot

36:46 Five Minute Fix

43:38 Book of the Month

Takeaways

  • AI is the primary catalyst driving the renaissance in AEC knowledge management.
  • The "missing middle" generation lost during the dot-com crash and 2008 crisis is creating a critical knowledge transfer gap.
  • The traditional AEC apprenticeship model is broken; firms must get intentional about accelerating skill development.
  • KM has evolved through three eras: digitization (KM 1.0), social sharing (KM 2.0), and AI-powered retrieval (KM 3.0).
  • Onboarding, design technology fluency, and project management are the top LMS use cases.
  • KM is increasingly reporting through operations, signaling its strategic importance.
  • KM strategy should start with core business challenges—scaling expertise, M&A integration, quality, retention—and work backward.
  • AI agents will soon be central to AEC operations, with employees managing agents before they manage people.

Host: Gregory Hart

Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney

Editor: Molly McElaney

Special thanks to Riverside FM!

]]>a19c48a4-ea3d-4f0c-a8fd-1b28569e1ad9Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>In this episode, Christopher Parsons, Founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, offers a vision for transforming your AEC firm into a Modern Learning Organization—one that continuously captures, shares, and scales expertise even as projects grow more complex, experienced professionals retire, and AI reshapes the field.</p><p>Christopher joins host and PSMJ President Gregory Hart with real-world examples of how leading AEC firms are accelerating knowledge transfer through curated learning paths, expert-led video, modular content, hybrid instructional models, and AI-powered search. You'll discover practical patterns for blending on-demand education, social learning, and emerging AI agents into a system that makes your entire organization smarter and more adaptive.</p><p>Whether you're facing a wave of retirements, siloed expertise, generational shifts, or wondering how AI will change your firm, this session delivers concrete next steps—and helps leaders walk away with clarity on where to start and how to design an organization that keeps learning no matter what the future brings.</p><p></p><p>Learn more about Christopher Parsons and Knowledge Architecture: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.knowledge-architecture.com" target="_blank">https://www.knowledge-architecture.com</a> Learn more about PSMJ's AEC TalentMAX Conference: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.psmj.com/talentmax" target="_blank">https://www.psmj.com/talentmax</a></p><p>Book of the Month: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://go.psmj.com/the-value-pricing-imperative-for-design-firms" target="_blank">https://go.psmj.com/the-value-pricing-imperative-for-design-firms</a></p><p>Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership" target="_blank">http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership</a></p><p></p><p>Chapters</p><p>1:11 Metric of the Month</p><p>5:27 Who is Christopher Parsons?</p><p>6:57 The History of Knowledge Management</p><p>9:41 The Hourglass Org Chart</p><p>11:47 The Evolution of Knowledge Management</p><p>15:00 AI's Role in Knowledge Management</p><p>16:47 Learning and Development in AEC Firms</p><p>20:05 Project Management and Knowledge Transfer</p><p>22:29 Generational Shifts and Business Design</p><p>24:11 Strategies for Effective Knowledge Transfer</p><p>29:05 The Role of Operations in Knowledge Management 31:15 AEC TalentMAX 2026</p><p>32:42 The Future of Knowledge Management and AI Integration</p><p>35:52 Anthropic Spider Plot</p><p>36:46 Five Minute Fix</p><p>43:38 Book of the Month</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>AI is the primary catalyst driving the renaissance in AEC knowledge management.</li><li>The "missing middle" generation lost during the dot-com crash and 2008 crisis is creating a critical knowledge transfer gap.</li><li>The traditional AEC apprenticeship model is broken; firms must get intentional about accelerating skill development.</li><li>KM has evolved through three eras: digitization (KM 1.0), social sharing (KM 2.0), and AI-powered retrieval (KM 3.0).</li><li>Onboarding, design technology fluency, and project management are the top LMS use cases.</li><li>KM is increasingly reporting through operations, signaling its strategic importance.</li><li>KM strategy should start with core business challenges—scaling expertise, M&amp;A integration, quality, retention—and work backward.</li><li>AI agents will soon be central to AEC operations, with employees managing agents before they manage people.<p></p></li></ul><p>Host: Gregory Hart</p><p>Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney</p><p>Editor: Molly McElaney</p><p>Special thanks to Riverside FM!</p>no00:47:4614Designing Modern Learning Organizations: Rethinking AEC Learning & Development in Age of AI (Ep. 4)full<![CDATA[Building the AEC Firm of the Future: Leadership, Innovation, and What Comes Next (Ep. 3)]]>What will tomorrow’s most successful architecture and engineering firms look like - and what steps must leaders do differently starting now? In this episode, Heather Polinsky, CEO nominee of global multidisciplinary firm Arcadis, joins the conversation to explore how AEC firms can build future-ready organizations through being bold in areas such as stronger leadership development, smarter innovation, and evolving business models. From preparing next-generation leaders to rethinking how work gets delivered, this discussion offers practical insight for CEOs focused on long-term competitiveness.

 

Learn more about Heather Polinsky and Arcadis here: https://www.arcadis.com/en/news/global/2025/12/arcadis-announces-heather-polinsky-as-new-ceo

 

Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more here: http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership

 

Check out Greg’s Book of the Month here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0GPSRHDPH

 

Chapters

1:38 Metric of the Month

5:49 Who is Heather Polinsky?

6:33 Polinsky’s Career Journey

12:06 Navigating Ownership Transition and Leadership Gaps

14:34 Emerging Traits for Future Leaders

18:15 Embracing Change in the AEC Industry

20:38 The Impact of Technology on AEC

24:25 Fostering a Culture of Innovation

31:44 Future Trends in the AEC Industry

34:56 Five Minute Fix

40:01 Book of the Month

 

Takeaways

  • Heather Polinsky's career path emphasizes the importance of curiosity and taking risks.
  • Leadership requires a different skill set than technical expertise.
  • Assessing leadership potential involves understanding both interpersonal and intellectual capacities.
  • Emerging leaders need commercial fluency and digital judgment.
  • Technology, especially AI, is transforming the AEC industry.
  • Creating a culture of innovation requires clarity and guardrails for experimentation.
  • The industry must move from transactional to relational models with clients.
  • Future leaders must understand the interconnectedness of various sectors.
  • The gig economy is reshaping workforce expectations in the AEC industry.
  • Structural changes in the industry will require agility and systems thinking.

 

Host: Gregory Hart

Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney, Nadia Drozario, Daniel Cochlin

Editor: Molly McElaney

Special thanks to Arcadis CEO Nominee Heather Polinsky and Riverside FM!

]]>28806b18-9ce1-4c28-9e95-4bec5fbf4086Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:30:00 GMT<p>What will tomorrow’s most successful architecture and engineering firms look like - and what steps must leaders do differently starting now? In this episode, Heather Polinsky, CEO nominee of global multidisciplinary firm Arcadis, joins the conversation to explore how AEC firms can build future-ready organizations through being bold in areas such as stronger leadership development, smarter innovation, and evolving business models. From preparing next-generation leaders to rethinking how work gets delivered, this discussion offers practical insight for CEOs focused on long-term competitiveness.</p><p> </p><p>Learn more about Heather Polinsky and Arcadis here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.arcadis.com/en/news/global/2025/12/arcadis-announces-heather-polinsky-as-new-ceo" target="_blank">https://www.arcadis.com/en/news/global/2025/12/arcadis-announces-heather-polinsky-as-new-ceo</a></p><p> </p><p>Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership" target="_blank">http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership</a></p><p> </p><p>Check out Greg’s Book of the Month here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://amazon.com/gp/product/B0GPSRHDPH" target="_blank">amazon.com/gp/product/B0GPSRHDPH</a></p><p> </p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p>1:38 Metric of the Month</p><p>5:49 Who is Heather Polinsky?</p><p>6:33 Polinsky’s Career Journey</p><p>12:06 Navigating Ownership Transition and Leadership Gaps</p><p>14:34 Emerging Traits for Future Leaders</p><p>18:15 Embracing Change in the AEC Industry</p><p>20:38 The Impact of Technology on AEC</p><p>24:25 Fostering a Culture of Innovation</p><p>31:44 Future Trends in the AEC Industry</p><p>34:56 Five Minute Fix</p><p>40:01 Book of the Month</p><p> </p><p><b>Takeaways</b></p><ul><li>Heather Polinsky's career path emphasizes the importance of curiosity and taking risks.</li><li>Leadership requires a different skill set than technical expertise.</li><li>Assessing leadership potential involves understanding both interpersonal and intellectual capacities.</li><li>Emerging leaders need commercial fluency and digital judgment.</li><li>Technology, especially AI, is transforming the AEC industry.</li><li>Creating a culture of innovation requires clarity and guardrails for experimentation.</li><li>The industry must move from transactional to relational models with clients.</li><li>Future leaders must understand the interconnectedness of various sectors.</li><li>The gig economy is reshaping workforce expectations in the AEC industry.</li><li>Structural changes in the industry will require agility and systems thinking.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Host: Gregory Hart</p><p>Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney, Nadia Drozario, Daniel Cochlin</p><p>Editor: Molly McElaney</p><p>Special thanks to Arcadis CEO Nominee Heather Polinsky and Riverside FM!</p>no00:43:2513Building the AEC Firm of the Future: Leadership, Innovation, and What Comes Next (Ep. 3)full<![CDATA[AI Proof in the Pudding: Pennoni's Joe Viscuso on Strategic Growth (Ep. 2)]]>In this conversation, Joe Viscuso, the Director of Strategic Growth at Pennoni, discusses his career journey, the role of technology in the AEC industry, and the challenges firms face in adopting new technologies. He highlights the importance of innovative solutions, particularly in road analytics, and emphasizes the need for the industry to adapt to a data-driven future. The discussion also touches on the competitive landscape of mergers and acquisitions and the evolving value proposition in the AEC sector.

Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more here: www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership

 

Order the Quarterly Market Forecast here: https://www.psmj.com/surveys/quarterly-market-forecast-2/

 

Check out Greg’s Book of the Month here:

https://www.amazon.com/Company-We-Keep-Reinventing-Community/dp/1931498733

 

Chapters

1:12 Metric of the Month

5:58 Who is Joe Viscuso?

9:01 Joe’s Career Journey & M&A Experience

10:44 The Role of Technology and Innovation in AEC

12:32 Challenges in Technology Adoption

13:53 Is Every AI Tool a Fit for Your Firm?

15:21 Case Study: AI for Road Analytics

18:39 The Future of Data and Predictive Analytics

22:01 Using AI for Data and How AEC Can Evolve

25:12 2026 Projections (Just for Fun)

26:06 M&A Activity & PSMJ’s M&A Summit

28:46 Five Minute Fix

34:45 Book of the Month

Takeaways

 

  • Joe Viscuso's role focuses on growing the top line of Pennoni.
  • Pennoni is 100% employee-owned and has grown significantly.
  • Technology plays a crucial role in client offerings and project delivery.
  • Adoption of technology is influenced by generational changes in the workforce.
  • Public sector clients are often more resistant to adopting new technologies than private clients.
  • Innovative road analytics technology improves objectivity in road condition assessments.
  • Data is a valuable asset that the AEC industry has yet to fully monetize.
  • Predictive analytics will play a significant role in the future of the industry.
  • M&A activity remains competitive, with firms needing to be forward-looking.
  • The industry must shift from selling hours to providing value-based solutions.

Host: Gregory Hart

Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney

Editor: Molly McElaney

Special thanks to Riverside FM!

]]>f36f0d24-2068-4801-9fda-98eac47f9bc6Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT<p>In this conversation, Joe Viscuso, the Director of Strategic Growth at Pennoni, discusses his career journey, the role of technology in the AEC industry, and the challenges firms face in adopting new technologies. He highlights the importance of innovative solutions, particularly in road analytics, and emphasizes the need for the industry to adapt to a data-driven future. The discussion also touches on the competitive landscape of mergers and acquisitions and the evolving value proposition in the AEC sector.</p><p></p><p>Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership" target="_blank">www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership</a></p><p> </p><p>Order the Quarterly Market Forecast here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.psmj.com/surveys/quarterly-market-forecast-2/" target="_blank">https://www.psmj.com/surveys/quarterly-market-forecast-2/</a></p><p> </p><p>Check out Greg’s Book of the Month here:</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Company-We-Keep-Reinventing-Community/dp/1931498733" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Company-We-Keep-Reinventing-Community/dp/1931498733</a></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p>1:12 Metric of the Month</p><p>5:58 Who is Joe Viscuso?</p><p>9:01 Joe’s Career Journey &amp; M&amp;A Experience</p><p>10:44 The Role of Technology and Innovation in AEC</p><p>12:32 Challenges in Technology Adoption</p><p>13:53 Is Every AI Tool a Fit for Your Firm?</p><p>15:21 Case Study: AI for Road Analytics</p><p>18:39 The Future of Data and Predictive Analytics</p><p>22:01 Using AI for Data and How AEC Can Evolve</p><p>25:12 2026 Projections (Just for Fun)</p><p>26:06 M&amp;A Activity &amp; PSMJ’s M&amp;A Summit</p><p>28:46 Five Minute Fix</p><p>34:45 Book of the Month</p><p><b>Takeaways</b></p><p><b> </b></p><ul><li>Joe Viscuso's role focuses on growing the top line of Pennoni.</li><li>Pennoni is 100% employee-owned and has grown significantly.</li><li>Technology plays a crucial role in client offerings and project delivery.</li><li>Adoption of technology is influenced by generational changes in the workforce.</li><li>Public sector clients are often more resistant to adopting new technologies than private clients.</li><li>Innovative road analytics technology improves objectivity in road condition assessments.</li><li>Data is a valuable asset that the AEC industry has yet to fully monetize.</li><li>Predictive analytics will play a significant role in the future of the industry.</li><li>M&amp;A activity remains competitive, with firms needing to be forward-looking.</li><li>The industry must shift from selling hours to providing value-based solutions.</li></ul><p></p><p>Host: Gregory Hart</p><p>Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney</p><p>Editor: Molly McElaney</p><p>Special thanks to Riverside FM!</p>no00:40:2512AI Proof in the Pudding: Pennoni's Joe Viscuso on Strategic Growth (Ep. 2)full<![CDATA[Growth Without Compromise: The Pape-Dawson Success Story (Ep. 1)]]>In 2025, the fastest-growing civil engineering firm Pape-Dawson acquired 6 firms and promoted 19 employees. President Trey Dawson joins PSMJ Resources President Gregory Hart to explore how his Pape-Dawson has achieved growth and success.

 

Pape-Dawson has been listed on PSMJ’s coveted Circle of Excellence for 13 of the past 14 years. This award recognizes superior financial and operating performance across 8 key performance metrics. Additionally, Pape-Dawson earned the No. 69 slot on Engineering-News Record’s ENR 500 list of the largest engineering firms, up from No. 93 on the list in 2024.

 

So, how do they do it? How does Pape-Dawson achieve industry-leading results year after year? They’ve navigated generational change, private equity investment, geographic expansion, and more…yet they still continue to deliver consistent results and stand out on so many dimensions. In this wide-ranging discussion, Greg and Trey touch on everything from strategic planning to project management to growth through acquisition to give you new ideas to start 2026 strong. 

Complete the AE Financial Performance Survey for a chance to join the AEC Circle of Excellence 2026 here: www.psmj.com/SurveyParticipate

 

Register for the AEC M&A Summit 2026 here: www.psmj.com/aecmasummit

 

Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more here: www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership

 

00:00 Introduction to Pape Dawson Engineers

03:01 Growth Trajectory and Achievements

06:10 Family Legacy and Leadership Transition

09:06 Company History and Expansion Strategy

12:01 Diversification and Market Strategy

15:11 Future Growth and Acquisition Plans

18:03 Company Culture and Talent Management

20:10 Talent Acquisition and Retention Strategies

22:06 The Value of Mergers and Acquisitions

23:58 Client Relationships and Responsiveness

27:36 Operational Discipline in Growth

37:34 Preserving Company Culture During Expansion

 

Takeaways

  • Pape Dawson has experienced significant growth, moving from a regional firm to a national player.
  • The firm has been recognized in PSMJ's Circle of Excellence for 13 out of the last 14 years.
  • Family legacy plays a crucial role in the leadership and culture of Pape Dawson.
  • Expansion strategies include both organic growth and mergers and acquisitions.
  • Talent acquisition and retention are critical for sustaining growth and stability.
  • Responsiveness to clients is a core value that sets Pape Dawson apart.
  • Operational focus and execution are key to managing growth effectively.
  • Maintaining a strong company culture is essential during periods of rapid expansion.
  • Assessing cultural fit is vital when considering acquisitions.
  • Communication and engagement with employees help preserve the company's culture.

Host: Gregory Hart

Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney

Editor: Molly McElaney

Special thanks to Riverside FM!

]]>d45a253c-77ce-4ea1-9451-182ab32b2c6eThu, 08 Jan 2026 14:15:37 GMT<p>In 2025, the fastest-growing civil engineering firm Pape-Dawson acquired 6 firms and promoted 19 employees. President Trey Dawson joins PSMJ Resources President Gregory Hart to explore how his Pape-Dawson has achieved growth and success.</p><p> </p><p>Pape-Dawson has been listed on PSMJ’s coveted Circle of Excellence for 13 of the past 14 years. This award recognizes superior financial and operating performance across 8 key performance metrics. Additionally, Pape-Dawson earned the No. 69 slot on Engineering-News Record’s ENR 500 list of the largest engineering firms, up from No. 93 on the list in 2024.</p><p> </p><p>So, how do they do it? How does Pape-Dawson achieve industry-leading results year after year? They’ve navigated generational change, private equity investment, geographic expansion, and more…yet they still continue to deliver consistent results and stand out on so many dimensions. In this wide-ranging discussion, Greg and Trey touch on everything from strategic planning to project management to growth through acquisition to give you new ideas to start 2026 strong. </p><p></p><p>Complete the AE Financial Performance Survey for a chance to join the AEC Circle of Excellence 2026 here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.psmj.com/SurveyParticipate" target="_blank">www.psmj.com/SurveyParticipate</a></p><p> </p><p>Register for the AEC M&amp;A Summit 2026 here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.psmj.com/aecmasummit" target="_blank">www.psmj.com/aecmasummit</a></p><p> </p><p>Not a PSMJ PRO member? Learn more here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership" target="_blank">www.psmj.com/psmjpromembership</a></p><p> </p><p>00:00 Introduction to Pape Dawson Engineers</p><p>03:01 Growth Trajectory and Achievements</p><p>06:10 Family Legacy and Leadership Transition</p><p>09:06 Company History and Expansion Strategy</p><p>12:01 Diversification and Market Strategy</p><p>15:11 Future Growth and Acquisition Plans</p><p>18:03 Company Culture and Talent Management</p><p>20:10 Talent Acquisition and Retention Strategies</p><p>22:06 The Value of Mergers and Acquisitions</p><p>23:58 Client Relationships and Responsiveness</p><p>27:36 Operational Discipline in Growth</p><p>37:34 Preserving Company Culture During Expansion</p><p> </p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Pape Dawson has experienced significant growth, moving from a regional firm to a national player.</li><li>The firm has been recognized in PSMJ's Circle of Excellence for 13 out of the last 14 years.</li><li>Family legacy plays a crucial role in the leadership and culture of Pape Dawson.</li><li>Expansion strategies include both organic growth and mergers and acquisitions.</li><li>Talent acquisition and retention are critical for sustaining growth and stability.</li><li>Responsiveness to clients is a core value that sets Pape Dawson apart.</li><li>Operational focus and execution are key to managing growth effectively.</li><li>Maintaining a strong company culture is essential during periods of rapid expansion.</li><li>Assessing cultural fit is vital when considering acquisitions.</li><li>Communication and engagement with employees help preserve the company's culture.</li></ul><p></p><p>Host: Gregory Hart</p><p>Producers: Gregory Hart, Pete McPherson, Molly McElaney</p><p>Editor: Molly McElaney</p><p>Special thanks to Riverside FM!</p>no00:39:0111Growth Without Compromise: The Pape-Dawson Success Story (Ep. 1)full