Building a People-First Culture That Drives Results

In this episode of Beyond the Boardroom, three firm leaders share how embracing a people-first approach has transformed their A/E/C firms. By prioritizing their teams, they’ve built strong, unique cultures that drive productivity, foster collaboration, and deliver remarkable business results. Learn how focusing on people leads to natural outcomes like growth and revenue. Discover actionable strategies to enhance your firm’s culture and unlock sustainable success. If you’re ready to transform your firm from the inside out, this episode is for you.

Guests:

Greg Horejs: With over 24 years of experience in the land development industry, Greg Horejs, P.E. combines technical expertise with a passion for building strong, dynamic teams. In 2016, he founded CAGE Engineering, Inc., with a mission to elevate the engineering consulting industry by delivering an unmatched level of service and expertise to clients tackling complex engineering, land surveying, and construction management challenges. He has cultivated a culture that balances support with challenge, enabling team members to grow their careers while consistently exceeding client expectations. Today, CAGE has expanded into a thriving firm with offices in Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina, and Florida, delivering top-tier consulting services nationwide. When he's not leading his team or giving back to his community, Greg is fully immersed in family life. With four active kids, he's often found cheering them on at their sporting events.

Roseann Schmid: Roseann graduated from Clarkson University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Her extensive experience spans multiple disciplines within civil engineering, including structural, environmental, transportation, and traffic engineering, as well as planning, design, and construction management. This diverse background has equipped her with both strong technical expertise and exceptional communication skills. A licensed Professional Engineer in New York State, Roseann has dedicated over 18 years to Fisher Associates, serving in key leadership roles such as Project Manager, Highway Group Manager, and Director of Transportation. Since January 2018, she has served as CEO of the firm. As CEO, Roseann drives the firm’s long-term strategy, ensuring alignment with its core purpose, mission, vision, and core values. She is passionate about cultivating a culture that focuses on open communication, transparency, and employee growth and development. 

Ryan Schmitt: 100% Owner, Founder and President of Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc. Ryan has over 32 years’ experience in the civil contracting industry with the last twenty-seven in senior management. A proven leader in the civil construction industry bringing a consistent history of corporate and association leadership, his areas of expertise include strategic planning, organizational design, process development and implementation, recruiting and staffing, motivating work force, safety design and implementation, estimating, project management, equipment acquisition and managerial accounting.