Sargent: On Track Podcast

Hosted by Sargent

Business Management

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Episodes

323

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Keeping Sargent employee-owners informed about what's going on within the company, industry, and ESOP world.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 20261 hr 2 min

Answering Your Questions – Project Wins/Upcoming Work/Safety | S7E24

In this episode of the Sargent: On Track Podcast, President & CEO Eric Ritchie is joined by Vice President of Operations & COO – North Douglas Morrison, Vice President of Operations & COO – South Justin Porter, and Safety Director Cam Haggar in the Flywheel Studio to cover project wins, upcoming work, and safety — topics drawn directly from questions submitted at the all-employee meetings. Doug and Justin walk through active and upcoming jobs across New England and the Mid-Atlantic and highlight project wins. The conversation then shifts to safety, with the group discussing accountability at every level, proper incident reporting, first aid requirements in the pits, real-world "Take 5" examples from job sites in both regions, and the importance of mental health and clear-headedness on site.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

June 4, 202653 min

Answering Your Questions – Career Advancement/Benefits/COLA | S7E23

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, we continue our series answering questions submitted during the all-employee meetings with Pete Perizo, Workforce Advancement Manager; Vice President of Human Resources, Amanda Martin; Chief Operating Officer - North and Vice President of New England Operations Doug Morrison; and Chief Operating Officer - South and Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Operations Justin Porter. The group covers a wide range of topics, including how to better yourself in your daily role, what career advancement really looks like at Sargent, how the Construction Academy works and who it's for, cross-training opportunities in the field, and what it takes to earn trust and move up in the company. The conversation also shifts to benefits and compensation, touching on how Sargent uses the Employment Cost Index rather than a standard COLA adjustment, what's being evaluated in this year's benefits review, how the high-deductible health plan and HSA work together, the boot reimbursement program, and how profit sharing is calculated and paid out.Workforce Advancement contact information:Pete’s Work Phone – (207) 817-7558Email – wfa@sargent.usIf you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

May 28, 202642 min

Answering Your Questions – ESOP | S7E22

In this episode of the Sargent: On Track Podcast, President & CEO Eric Ritchie is joined by Vice President of Finance and CFO Tasha Gardner in the Flywheel Studio to kick off a new series answering questions submitted during the all-employee meetings. Tasha breaks down vesting and what it means to be a true employee-owner, walks through how shares get allocated between hourly and salaried employees, and explains how internship years factor into vesting. The conversation also digs into retirement planning, tax implications of the ESOP and 401k, and the difference between Roth and traditional contributions at different stages of a career. Eric and Tasha close with a reminder that knowing the ESOP inside and out is part of being an employee owner, and that it takes all 600-plus employee-owners to keep the culture going.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

May 21, 202650 min

We're All Leaders: SLA Graduation & DON’T MISS PRICE-IS-RIGHT | S7E21

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, VP of HR Amanda Martin is joined by Superintendent Keith Edgecomb, Controller Casey Flynn, Project Manager Ryan Cullen, Project Executive Kody Vining, HR Manager Claire Ryder, Foreman Alex Castedio, Foreman Kyle Salley, Project Executive Seth Watts, WellBuilt facilitator Matt Verderamo, and Laura Pfeiffenberger and Chris Whitney from Spinnaker Trust in the Flywheel Studio on graduation day of the Sargent Leadership Academy. The group walks through what the program actually looks like, from DISC profiles and emotional intelligence to planning for hard conversations, learning the inside workings of finance, HR, estimating, and workforce advancement, and getting an outside look at corporate governance and the ESOP. Participants share how the academy shifted the way they think about leadership, why role-playing turned out to be more useful than they expected, and how a class of employee-owners from different departments and regions grew tight-knit along the way.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

May 14, 202652 min

ESOP Distributions: Knowing Your Options & TRUE UP BONUS PRICE-IS-RIGHT! | S7E20

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & CEO Eric Ritchie is joined by CFO Tasha Gardner and VP of Human Resources Amanda Martin in the Flywheel Studio to break down ESOP distributions during Sargent ESOP Month. The team walks through the four main distribution groups, in-service employees, terminated participants, retirees, and beneficiaries in cases of death or disability, and explains the rules tied to each one, including statutory diversification at age 55 with 10 years in the plan, lump sum options at age 61, and the differences for employees hired before and after January 1, 2023. They also cover the upcoming election window running from May 26th through June 26th, the importance of keeping beneficiaries up to date, what happens when retirees come back to work, and why calling a tax professional and the team here at Sargent matters before making any decisions. Eric, Tasha, and Amanda also share a good reminder from Herb that everyone should retire with a surplus of dignity, and that the share price keeps climbing because of the hard work every employee owner puts in day in and day out. Give it a listen and save it for later, this one is worth keeping on the shelf.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

May 7, 202635 min

Sargent and Brinkmann Constructors Talk Employee Ownership & PRICE-IS-RIGHT CONTINUES | S7E19

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & CEO Eric Ritchie is joined by Mid-Atlantic Business Development Manager Mike Mullins and Brinkman Constructors Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations and Regional Offices Ted Hoog in the Flywheel Studio for a conversation about employee-ownership, company culture, and what it takes to carry a strong construction company forward. Ted shares Brinkman’s ESOP journey, how founder Bob Brinkman used employee-ownership as a way to protect the company’s legacy, and how the company has grown while working to keep its core values intact across multiple regions.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

April 30, 202635 min

New England Meeting Voices & PRICE-IS-RIGHT | S7E18

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, we catch up with employee-owners at Sargent’s Northern Maine and Southern Maine all-employee meetings to hear what keeps them moving, what they’re taking into the busy season, and what it means to be part of Sargent during its 100th year. From newer team members finding their place, to long-time employee-owners reflecting on safety, career growth, and the value of getting everyone together, the conversations give a good look at the people behind the work. The episode also kicks off Sargent ESOP Month with CFO & VP Finance Tasha Gardner and CEO & President Eric Ritchie joining in for the Price-Is-Right and a quick lesson on how the ESOP works, with a reminder that employee ownership is built through the work everyone does each day.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

April 23, 202631 min

Why Should You Use HealthJoy? | S7E17

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, Vice President-Human Resources Amanda Martin is joined by HealthJoy representatives Lindsay Nelson and Stephanie Young, Cross Insurance representative Gabe Marchese, and HR Generalist Jennifer Snow in the Flywheel Studio to talk about how the HealthJoy app can help Sargent employee-owners and their families better understand and use their healthcare benefits. The conversation covers how the app can help users find in-network care, make appointments, review medical bills, set health goals, and get support when healthcare questions come up, whether they are at home, on the road, or helping a family member from a distance. It is a practical episode with straightforward examples, and it is worth a listen for anyone who wants to make healthcare and benefits a little easier to manage.Get started with HealthJoy so it is ready when you need it. If you have a work email, watch for a Launch Day email to activate your account. If not, you can still sign up by downloading the app, entering the email tied to your benefits, and verifying your identity with a few extra details if needed. From there, add your preferred email and phone number, create a password, and you are set. To activate your account, visit www.healthjoy.com/download or search for HealthJoy in the App Store or Google Play Store.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

April 16, 202641 min

The Herbert E. Sargent Founder’s Award | S7E16

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & CEO Eric Ritchie is joined by Workforce Advancement Director Kevin Gordon, Vice President of Human Resources Amanda Martin, and Vice President of Finance & CFO Tasha Gardner in the Flywheel Studio to reflect on Sargent’s 100th anniversary celebration, share project award updates, and spend meaningful time on the introduction of the new Herbert E. Sargent Founder’s Award. The conversation centers on Kevin being named the inaugural recipient and explores why the award was created, what it represents, and how Sargent’s Core Purpose and Values continue to shape the way the company invests in people.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us

April 9, 202628 min

Sargent at 100: Patrick Findlen From Geology to Safety | S7E15

In this episode of the Sargent On Track Podcast’s Sargent 100 interview series, Sebastian sits down with Patrick Findlen, a longtime employee who joined Sargent in 1986 after returning to geology and stayed with the company through 2016. Pat shares how he helped Estimating by locating and permitting gravel, borrow, clay, and other material sources, and how that work later led him into a field-focused safety role supporting crews in both New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Along the way, he reflects on the leadership and values that shaped the company across different eras, including the importance of keeping your word, treating people fairly, and holding the line on safety.If you liked this week’s episode and are interested in becoming an Employee-Owner at Sargent, please visit our careers page on the Sargent website.https://sargent.us/apply/If you have an episode suggestion, please send your idea to:sbennage@sargent.us