Sargent: On Track Podcast

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, guest host Business Development Director Glenn Adams sits down with Maine Turnpike Authority Executive Director Andre Briere and Lead Estimator James McCarthy at the Exit 35 & 36 project site in Saco. The group discusses Andre’s unique journey from the Air Force and cybersecurity to public transportation leadership, his vision for the MTA, and why tolli...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , President Eric Ritchie sits down with Workforce Advancement Manager Pete Parizo and 2024 SCA graduate Cohen Noble to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sargent Construction Academy. Eric and Pete discuss how the program has evolved from the early days—housing and busing new hires to a “training field”—to today’s company-wide initiative focused on helpin...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , President Eric Ritchie sits down with Northern Maine Regional Manager Tim LePage and Superintendent Scott Blanchard to reflect on the completion of the largest project in Sargent’s history—the I-395/Route 9 Connector. The team revisits some of the early challenges and predictions they made in 2023, including handling wick drains, ultra-lightweight fill, an...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , Amanda Martin, VP of Human Resources, introduces the growing HR team at Sargent—including new team members from Maine and North Carolina. Listeners get to know Claire, Renee, Harry, Alexis, and Justin as they share their backgrounds, hobbies, and how they support Sargent’s employee-owners. The team also highlights Sargent’s recent growth, military-friendly...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , we shine a spotlight on the growing community of women field leaders at Sargent. Sebastian has a conversation with current and future leaders—including Meredith Brewer, Elizabeth Drelich, Jessie Kennedy, Charli Vaillancourt, and retired Superintendent Katrina Morgan—about their experiences in the field, the importance of support, and the launch of a new in...

In this episode of the Sargent On Track Podcast, host Business Development Director Glenn Adams sits down with leaders from N.S. Giles—Maine’s largest concrete contractor—to talk about their journey from humble beginnings to major project partners on jobs like the Back Cove South Storage Facility. They discuss the company’s growth, recent acquisitions, commitment to safety, and innovations in tilt...

In this Sargent On Track Podcast episode, host Sebastian and HR Specialist Justin Embry welcome Bruce Watson, Director of Career and Technical Education at Goochland County Public Schools. Bruce shares the story behind Goochland’s successful Heavy Equipment Operator Program, launched in 2014, designed to prepare high school students for immediate, high-paying careers in the construction industry....

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President Eric Ritchie is joined by CEO Herb Sargent and CFO Tasha Gardner to celebrate the conclusion of Sargent's ESOP month. The trio reflects on the significance of employee ownership, highlighting the company's remarkable ESOP growth and the direct benefits experienced by employee-owners, from stock price increases to vesting milestones. They...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President Eric Ritchie welcomes CFO Marcie Martelle and COO Brian Emmons from fellow Maine‑based ESOP T Buck Construction for a behind‑the‑scenes chat about what it really takes to build—and sustain—an employee‑owned company. From the legacy of founder Terry Buck and T Buck’s 2020 transition to 100% employee ownership to the day‑to‑day challenges of educati...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & COO Eric Ritchie sits down with Vice President of HR Amanda Martin, Northern Maine Regional Manager Tim LePage, and Vice President of Accounting & Administration Carey Sheehan to unpack the brand‑new Sargent Leadership Academy—an in‑house, 12‑day program designed to give current and emerging leaders the hard and soft skills they’ll need...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President Eric Ritchie sits down with CEO Herb Sargent and newly promoted Vice Presidents/Chief Operating Officers Doug Morrison (North) and Justin Porter (South) to reveal the company’s new dual‑COO structure, explain how it supports Sargent’s succession plan, and share what “responsible growth” looks like in both New England and the Mid‑Atlantic. The conv...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & COO Eric Ritchie sits down with Assistant Equipment Manager Brandon Mace to explore why “taking CARE” of Sargent’s iron is just as critical to success as taking care of its people. They unpack data on how trimming idle time is already saving the company hundreds of thousands of dollars (and adding real ESOP value), walk through simple daily...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & COO Eric Ritchie welcomes ESOP retirees Chip Laite and Dennis Bernard for a conversation about their far-flung careers—from Aroostook County, Maine, to Mid-Atlantic landfills—the mentors who shaped them, and how employee-ownership has boosted their post-Sargent lives. Along the way, Eric, CEO Herb Sargent, and VP-Finance & CFO Tasha swap...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & COO Eric Ritchie welcomes newly appointed Small Tools Manager Matt Chambers to the Flywheel Studio to talk about one of Sargent’s “hidden gems” — the Small Tools Department and how he’s preparing to succeed 45-year veteran Bobby Leland. If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , Marketing & Communications Coordinator Sebastian Bennage attends the last set of New England all-employee meetings and interviews foremen, mechanics, shop veterans, new hires, and CEO Herb Sargent to talk about camaraderie, safety first, and the excitement of seeing this year’s ESOP stock‑price jump. From decades-long employee‑owners reflecting on how...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , Marketing & Communications Coordinator Sebastian Bennage takes us inside the New England all-employee meetings in Maine—one in South Portland and one in Orono—and interviews range from new hires to seasoned operators, all sharing what keeps them coming back year after year—camaraderie, opportunities to learn, and seeing their hard work pay off. Many cr...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, host Eric Ritchie teams up with a group of graduates from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Young Professionals program to discuss how it has shaped their leadership journeys. They highlight the importance of honing “soft skills” like communication, relationship-building, and mentorship—especially when working with seasoned veterans in demanding...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, host Eric Ritchie sits down with Workforce Development Manager Pete Parizo and seasoned Operator Ken Thurlow to discuss our winter training programs and share how the team is preparing our crews for another busy construction season. They discuss the importance of hands-on training in real-world conditions and explain how the company’s “ownership” theme driv...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast , Marketing & Communications Coordinator Sebastian Bennage takes us inside Sargent’s recent all-employee meetings in the Mid-Atlantic Region, held separately in Virginia and North Carolina for the first time—a testament to the region’s growth. Sebastian interviews a mix of new hires and longtime employees, capturing their experiences, career journeys, an...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, Eric sits down with Equipment Manager Tim Richards and Assistant Equipment Manager Brandon Mace for an inside look at the latest updates in our shop and equipment operations. From year-round maintenance strategies and major shop improvements to the role of our fabrication team in supporting projects, Tim and Brandon share how their team is keeping Sargent r...

In this episode of the On Track podcast, Host Eric Ritchie talks with four women at Sargent—ranging from newly promoted VP Accounting & Administration Carey Sheehan to a long-time Shop Administrator Sheila Smith, Junior Foreman Elizabeth Drelich, and an Off-Road Truck Driver Brittany Kraus— who share their stories of building rewarding careers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. They d...

Host Eric Ritchie is joined by Safety Director Cam Haggar, Safety Manager Adam Pollock, and Safety Specialist James Joyner to discuss how our commitment to safety is maintained through the CARE initiative (Committed, Accountable, Responsible, Empowered) and the Take 5 mindset. They discuss the importance of proactive safety measures, planning, and preventing incidents before they happen while ensu...

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, we catch up with the team behind a unique box culvert replacement in Meredith, New Hampshire—a job that packed challenges into a short time frame. Regional Manager Sean Milligan, Junior Superintendent John Koch Jr., and Senior Foreman Chris Lee share how they navigated tight scheduling, high-tension overhead power lines, and a high-visibility location, all...

In this final installment of the Sargent Flywheel miniseries, the team focuses on the sixth and final cog: Celebrate & Promoting the Wins. President & COO Eric Ritchie, Business Development Director Glenn Adams, Estimating/Marketing Coordinator Lea Howe, and Marketing/Communications Coordinator Sebastian Bennage dive into how recognizing successes—both big and small—keeps the momentum of e...

In this episode of the Sargent On Track podcast, President and COO Eric Ritchie, along with guests General Superintendent Ricky Powell, Superintendent Adam Tienen, and Excavator Operator Darrick Trueworthy delve into the fifth cog of Sargent’s Flywheel—“Execute & Win in the Field.” The crew shares real-world experiences on how thoughtful planning, clear communication, and teamwork drive projec...