Amy Squitieri stands at a unique crossroads of the past and future as Mead & Hunt celebrates its 125th anniversary. As an architectural historian who joined the firm more than 30 years ago, she looked to history to guide our cultural resources projects. Now, as our CEO-elect, Amy is looking to the future and how innovation, sustainability, and putting people first will play key roles in our next 125 years.
We sat down with Amy for an insightful conversation to learn more about her experiences, how the firm evolved, and where we’re headed as we look to the future of our company and industry. We’re thrilled to share her insights with you.
Q&A with COO Amy Squitieri
Q: How Did You Grow Your Career in the AEC Industry?
My path to the AEC industry was serendipitous. In graduate school, I studied architectural history. Then I discovered historic preservation consulting through a professional mentor. An invitation from then-President Raj Sheth to join Mead & Hunt began my career at the firm. Raj set the bar high while also allowing room for career growth based on my interests and passions. He really encouraged me to expand my own expectations of what I thought was possible with a growth mindset.
That’s why my guiding principle is: “Go for it”—embrace opportunities without fear of failure, while maintaining a culture of respect where collaboration overrides individual ego.
Q: What Are Memorable Milestones from Your Time at Mead & Hunt?
Mead & Hunt’s 125-year journey has been based on strategic evolution. From my perspective, this is especially evident over the past 40 years, from the standpoint of being an employee-owned company. The initial group of shareholders has expanded significantly from a tight-knit partnership of 30 people in the 1990s to a robust organization of more than 400 shareholders today.
A pivotal moment where we refined our approach to growth came in 1995 when the company learned a crucial lesson about integration. After an unsuccessful acquisition of a Merced, California, office that functioned on the periphery as a separate profit center instead of an integral partner, leadership developed a key takeaway: going forward we would operate as a unified company. We’ve stood by that one-company approach ever since with tremendous success, sharing resources and supporting each other.
Q: How Has Mead & Hunt Adapted to Change While Preserving Its Core Values?
The company’s approach to change is inspiring. While navigating significant transformations, our core values have remained constant: to take care of people, do the right thing, and do what makes sense.
As our culture evolves with the introduction of new practices and communication methods, we remain anchored to our fundamental principles. By carefully selecting employees who align with these values, the firm continues to grow with continuity and integrity.
Q: How Do We Prioritize Innovation?
In 2018, we* launched the FIT (Foresight + Innovation + Technology) program, an important initiative that redefined our approach to innovation. The program established that innovation isn’t just about groundbreaking technology but can include any idea that provides a positive business impact. By creating an inclusive and visible platform where ideas can emerge from anywhere in the organization, the program reduces silos and expands collective creativity.
* Note from the interviewer: Amy is being far too humble here. She was the initial driving force behind this initiative—it wouldn’t be as successful without her leadership and vision.
Q: What Are Some Significant Achievements You’re Proud of During Your Tenure at Mead & Hunt?
I can say I take pride in two significant achievements during my career.
First is the introduction of the Cultural Resources team in 1993, which has since developed into a nationally recognized practice serving Departments of Transportation and other clients throughout the country. I believe we’re now one of the largest teams in the nation. What sets us apart is having historians, archaeologists, architects, and engineers all working together under one roof. This integrated approach means we can dive deep into the stories and significance of historic properties while handling also the technical aspects of preservation.

I’m particularly proud of our national reputation in historic bridges, roads, and postwar architecture. Our staff brings a community’s stories to life through interpretation, surveys, and National Register nominations. With the recent addition of Dovetail Cultural Resources Group to our firm, we broadened our geographic reach throughout the Mid-Atlantic and expanded our services to offer archaeology. Looking back to when I started in 1993, it’s incredible to see how this group has grown from a small team of passionate preservationists into a nationally recognized practice that’s shaping the future by preserving important aspects of our past.
The second achievement has been our expansion into water/wastewater markets. While this wasn’t initially a core strength of mine, I saw tremendous opportunities—both for growth and for making a real environmental impact. With aging infrastructure creating urgent needs nationwide, we took the bold step of building our expertise through four strategic acquisitions. Today, we’ve assembled an incredible team of water and wastewater professionals who are helping communities protect their water resources for future generations. This combination of strategic growth and environmental stewardship defines who we are.
Q: What Is Mead & Hunt’s Vision for the Future?
Ultimately our vision for the future is about creating opportunities for people—encouraging them to develop technical and leadership skills while contributing to meaningful community improvements. By encouraging cross-disciplinary thinking that solves multifaceted problems, we want to inspire future generations to uphold and expand our people-first approach. We continue to keep our firm’s vision front and center: to pass on a healthy, growing company to the next generation of employee owners.
Q: Looking Ahead, How Are We Becoming a Future-Ready Firm?
Mead & Hunt’s future is shaped by entrepreneurial spirit and strategic foresight. Thoughtful acquisitions, a growth-oriented mindset, and a flexible approach to opportunities define our approach to being a future-ready firm. We’ve become more sophisticated in planning, budgeting, and implementing incremental improvements to develop a resilient company. We are prepared to adapt and grow to meet client needs while taking care of our people and communities.
Looking forward, we recognize that technical solutions alone aren’t enough. We’re committed to building teams with diverse perspectives, understanding that this approach leads to more comprehensive problem-solving and better client relationships.
Q: Any Final Thoughts?
Mead & Hunt is a company that views change not as a challenge but as an opportunity to pursue growth and innovation while creating a positive, lasting impact.
Looking to the Future
We appreciate Amy carving time out of her schedule to share how her decades of experience at Mead & Hunt are helping her position our firm for continued success.
As she steps into the role of CEO later in 2025, Amy’s leadership exemplifies what makes Mead & Hunt exceptional. Her entrepreneurial mindset and remarkable foresight drive innovation across our organization, while her commitment to putting people first shapes our culture. As an environmentalist, she understands that protecting our cultural and natural resources is foundational to our sustainability and resilience goals. Her values and vision guide Mead & Hunt, defining who we are and where we’re heading in the future.