CEO Mike Carragher describes how VHB has unlocked a sustainable future for their organisation, in part by weaving their purpose through all their communications and key events. He also discusses how they made clear choices in creating their long-term vision, choices which have helped their people understand what VHB is going to do and what they aren’t going to do – so all their people can self-navigate more.
VHB is one of the US’s premier integrated services consultants. Their passionate professionals include engineers, scientists, planners, and designers who partner with public and private clients in the transportation, real estate, institutional, and energy industries, as well as federal, state, and local governments.
Together, they work to improve mobility, enhance communities and economic vitality, and balance development and infrastructure needs with environmental stewardship.
As VHB’s first non-founder President in its 40-year history, Mike has led the company through one of its most transformational, successful, and strategic periods of growth, geographic expansion, and technological advancement. His vision and leadership are propelling VHB’s diverse team of engineers, scientists, planners, and designers forward to evolve and embrace new technology to meet increasing client challenges, improve our nation’s mobility, and shape communities in a sustainable and meaningful way. As he helps set the course for the sustained success of VHB’s Generational Company, Mike’s dedication to VHB’s 1,600 professionals—and to maintaining the firm’s unique, inclusive culture—is evident in everything he does.
Recognizing a need for a cultural shift, Mike is helping to ignite the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the AEC industry. Through his leadership role in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Design Professionals Council (DPC), Mike is a tireless and vocal advocate for advancing diversity in the workplace and creating more inclusive environments.
Throughout his career Mike has had the opportunity to help enhance our nation’s cities by working on some of the most complex mobility challenges, including highway and multimodal systems in Boston; Philadelphia; New York; Washington, DC; and Orlando. During his 22 years at VHB, Mike founded and helped build the firm’s transit and rail practice, directed the company’s transportation practice, helped establish the Tysons office in Virginia, and led VHB’s emergence as a premier integrated services consultant in Florida.
Mike is active in numerous professional associations, including ACEC, the ACEC Research Institute Board of Directors (Vice Chair), and the ACEC DPC Executive Committee; Women’s Transportation Seminar; Design-Build Institute of America; American Public Transportation Association; American Society of Civil Engineers; and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association. He previously served as Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware, his alma mater.
Mike was recognized by the Environmental Financial Consulting Group (EFCG) as 2021 CEO of the Year. He was also the 2021 recipient of the WTS-Boston Honorable Ray LaHood Award, as well as the University of Delaware 2016 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Alumni Award.
Mike resides in Boston with his wife Joan. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.
Mike Carragher