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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, Marketing & Communications Lead Sebastian Bennage is joined by Project Engineer Carter Patterson, Northern Maine Safety and DOT Compliance Specialist Adam Smith, and Division Vice President at Well Built Matt Verderamo in the Flywheel Studio for an on-the-fly conversation recorded during the Sargent Leadership Academy. The group talks through what the Academy is, why it matters, and what participants are taking back to their crews and teams.The Well Built Podcast: https://www.wellbuiltconsulting.com/thewellbuiltpodcastIf 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

In this episode of the On Track Podcast, President & CEO Eric Ritchie is joined by Workforce Advancement Manager Pete Parizo and Construction Technology Manager (Guru) Jeff Costello in the Flywheel Studio to talk about why training matters at Sargent and why it needs to be seen as more than just a winter program. The conversation looks at how training supports the transfer of knowledge from experienced employee-owners to the next generation, builds ownership and decision-making in the field, and helps crews use technology like GPS and simulators as tools, not crutches. Eric, Pete, and Jeff make the case that real training is not just about checking a box or learning a system, but about improving judgment, discipline, confidence, and long-term value for both the individual and the company.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