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

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