SSR On Air

Hosted by Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to SSR On Air , where we tell the stories that make SSR, SSR. Behind every project, achievement, and innovation are people who care deeply about their work and each other. We're a company built on ownership, driven by excellence, and grounded in meaningful relationships. Through candid conversations with colleagues from across the firm, SSR On Air highlights the experiences, challenges, and successes that shape our culture. From complex projects and career journeys to lessons learned and moments of impact, you'll hear what it really means to build a high-performing organization without losing sight of the people who make it possible.

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41 recent

October 12, 2026Episode 214 min

The Ownership Mindset

At SSR, ownership is more than a benefit. It's a mindset that shapes how we work, support one another, and build for the future. In this episode of SSR On Air, we celebrate ESOPtober by exploring what employee ownership looks like in practice and how it helps shape the high-performing AND people-centric, compassionate culture that makes SSR unique. Join us as we sit down with Abi Hartman and Jeff Perry to discuss SSR's 100% employee-owned ESOP, the impact ownership has on individual careers, and how an ownership mindset influences the way we collaborate, solve problems, and invest in each other's success. Through perspectives from different stages of their careers, Abi and Jeff share reflections on growth, opportunity, and the experiences that have shaped their journeys at SSR. Listen as they explore how employee ownership creates a culture where people are empowered to learn, contribute, and make a lasting impact. From mentorship and professional development to accountability and shared success, this conversation highlights what it means to be part of a firm where every colleague has a stake in the future. Whether you're curious about ESOPs, passionate about building a strong workplace culture, or interested in what makes employee ownership different, this episode offers an authentic look at the mindset that helps drive SSR forward.

September 21, 2026Episode 15 min

Welcome Back to SSR On Air!

Welcome back to SSR On Air. After a two-year break, and we’re rebuilding the show. Behind every project, achievement, and innovation are people who care deeply about their work and each other. We're a company built on ownership, driven by excellence, and grounded in meaningful relationships. Through candid conversations with colleagues from across the firm, SSR On Air highlights the experiences, challenges, and successes that shape our culture. From complex projects and career journeys to lessons learned and moments of impact, you'll hear what it really means to build a high-performing organization without losing sight of the people who make it possible. We hope you'll tune in.

June 10, 2024Episode 524 min

Growth in the Urban Southeast

Discover the secrets of SSR's successful expansion into the Urban Southeast market directly from Mark Haldeman, a Principal for SSR focused on growing market presence in the region. Mark and SSR On Air host Mike Rogers discuss SSR's initial identification of opportunities to serve our clients with presence in this area; how Mark has been supporting Seth Spangler (Atlanta), Terry Madden (Charlotte), and others in their respective locations to expand existing relationships, talk strategy, and leverage their experiences; and how SSR is expanding relationships with current clients into different service lines as well as targeting new clients in the healthcare, education, and industrial markets.

February 19, 2024Episode 325 min

Welcome to the "Era of And" at SSR

SSR On Air is excited to welcome Susan Osterberg, our newly appointed CEO, to share her aspirations for SSR in this new "era of and." In her conversation with host Mike Rogers, Susan peels back the layers of strategic leadership and growth to explain that the growth trajectory isn't just about expanding geographies but also about fostering the next generation of leaders. Learn how strategic hiring in targeted regions and investing in talent attraction are just the beginning of our ambitious plans. Susan casts a vision of a workplace where AI integration and leadership development converge, ensuring SSR's continued success and innovation. Listen as they discuss the how SSR becomes an organization that's as dedicated to its people as it is to its performance.

January 29, 2024Episode 219 min

Shaping Our Future Leadership: SSR's Mentorship Program (Part 2)

Ever wonder how the unlikely pairing of a bright-eyed accounting director and a seasoned sustainability consultant could redefine mentorship? As Sara Presley and Alan Smith discuss their mentorship paring, they reveal the highs and lows of their unique journey, proving that sometimes, the most enriching growth comes from the most surprising connections. In a similar vein, Jon Ross, an SSR veteran with over four decades of insight, and Kevin Rumbolt, a hands-on project manager, explore their mentor-mentee dynamic. Their candid discussion peels back the layers on how SSR's mentorship program isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about leadership, expanding visions beyond the technical jargon, and leveraging innate talents like Kevin's knack for collaboration. Together, they demonstrate that mentorship is more than just guidance—it’s a mutual exchange of knowledge that shapes the future leaders of engineering.

January 18, 2024Episode 114 min

Shaping Our Future Leadership: SSR's Mentorship Program (Part 1)

In March of 2023, the first official Mentorship Class at SSR got underway. Comprised of 25 pairings from across the firm, the program was established to provide a platform for colleagues to comfortably engage in discussions pertaining to career goals, challenges, and opportunities. In this episode of SSR On Air, Mike talks with Jessica Nyce, Director of HR, to get a better understanding of how the first year of the program went and future plans. They discuss many of the benefits of the program, including increased knowledge, inspired development of leadership skills, strengthened interconnectivity between business units, and expanded influence for a strong, meaningful culture at SSR. Later this month we'll release the second part , a conversation with two mentor/mentee pairings.

October 26, 2023Episode 1128 min

It's a Parking Lot Party

Mike sits down with Matt Davis and Casey Hester to talk about a unique and collaborative opportunity the civil group has been doing for a longstanding healthcare client. Late last year, Casey fielded a question asking if SSR had the capability to perform a parking lot assessment. Not positive of our capabilities, he responded with a confident YES and immediately called Andrew Johnson, Principal for our Civil group. Nearly a year later, SSR has performed nearly two dozen asphalt assessments across the country, has a centralized database of their data, and is working on parking lot construction projects. Mike, Casey, and Matt talk about the SSR One approach we take with all our clients, seeking to become a trusted advisor that can help solve all their problems, regardless of where the relationship originated. They talk about some lessons Matt & the civil group have learned about working with healthcare, new technology they’re engaging with this client, and how the relationship has continued to evolve and we’re helping with other site issues. Matt is a civil EIT for SSR’s civil group. He has more than six years of experience and has worked on several critical projects for utility companies with services that include hydraulic modeling, construction administration, and water and sewer improvements. Casey Hester, PE, is a principal and client relationship manager in SSR’s Nashville office. With a background in design, engineering consulting, and project management, Casey is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with various healthcare, hospitality, and industrial clients in the southeast.

October 12, 2023Episode 1021 min

Welcome to ESOPtober

Every colleague at SSR contributes to our overall success through building strong relationships, executing for our clients, and owning the growth of our firm. As a 100% ESOP-owned firm, when we all contribute, we all succeed. In celebration of ESOP month — called ESOPtober — we pause to celebrate this collective effort and the impact it has on our firm's culture. Join us as Mike talks with guests Tim Priddy, Andy Brophy, and Karen Espensen about the evolution of SSR's ESOP and the newly formed Employee Ownership Council (EOC). The EOC has formed two committee, education and events, with three goals: Celebrate ownership and generate employee engagement for “ownership thinking” Convey advantages of being part of an employee-owned company to all colleagues Educate colleagues on basic structure and benefits of our ESOP Tim Priddy, CPA, has been SSR's CFO for the past 22 years. He's a member of the Board of Directors and has been an integral part of SSR's growth during his tenure. Andy Brophy, PE, BEMP, LEED AP BD+C, O+M, is a Senior Building Performance Engineer, providing sustainability and high performance building consulting for the design and operation of buildings. Karen Espensen, PE, is a Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer for our MEP practice.

September 14, 2023Episode 926 min

Making of a Market Leader: Introducing SSR's Healthcare Council

Join us today as our guest, Kevin Wolfford, explains SSR's recently established healthcare council, its committees, and the grand vision behind it all. Learn about the four key committees - market presence, strategic accounts, trends, and national footprint - and how they are taking an "SSR One" approach to the healthcare market to enhance our national healthcare market presence. Mike and Kevin delve into the accomplishments of the council's first six months and the efforts to make SSR the firm of choice for all services to the healthcare market. Kevin is a Senior Principal based in our Houston office. With 40 years of experience, he is focused on the development of new clients and markets, maintaining existing client relationships, and growing our presence in the healthcare market.

August 25, 2023Episode 845 min

Farewell Steve

For the last time, outgoing CEO Steve Lane sits down with Mike Rogers to reflect on his career and what's next for him. Steve has been an SSR colleague for 45 years (and Mike's boss for 23 years!), serving in numerous leadership roles over his career including CEO for the past five years. Steve's guidance and attention to detail has led SSR to become the best sustainable business we can be. Steve shares some fond memories, talks about accomplishments, and recalls marquee projects that have shaped his career at SSR. He also reflects on his volunteer work, specifically with the Ronald McDonald House and American Council of Engineering Companies. Steve then turns his focus toward the future, discussing his continuing role as Chair of SSR's Board of Directors, passion for giving back, and upcoming plans.