It’s not a joke – today is the official retirement date of Judy Nitsch, PE, LEED AP BD+C, our founding principal! April 1, 2020 marks the culmination of an ownership and leadership transition plan that Judy started more than 25 years ago: Lisa A. Brothers, PE, ENV SP, LEED AP BD+C, our Chairman and CEO, will continue to lead Nitsch Engineering as we move into the future.
Judy founded Nitsch Engineering (then called Judith Nitsch Engineering, Inc.) in 1989, and led the company as President until 2011, when Lisa transitioned into the role of President and CEO. Judy continued to serve as chairman of the board until 2016, when Lisa stepped into that role as well. Since 2016, Judy has served on the board of directors and worked part-time focusing on client relationships and business development.
When reflecting on her career, Judy said, “When I founded Nitsch Engineering, I envisioned a company that went above and beyond to meet client needs, and that would do excellent engineering work with, as we like to say, ‘a smile on our face.’ I’m truly delighted with the company that Nitsch Engineering has grown to become, and how the leaders and employees are so well prepared and poised to bring the company to even more success. I know the company will be ‘building better communities with you’ for a long time!”
Lisa added, “In 1989, when I first heard that Judy was going to start her own firm, I followed her out of the meeting and said, ‘Not without me!’ I knew from the beginning that her vision and drive would result in a company that would not only succeed, but would thrive – and I knew that we would make a great team to make that happen. Over the past 30 years, Judy and I have learned a lot from each other, and I’m so proud that she’s been my business partner and friend for so long. The whole company is grateful to Judy for her early commitment to transition planning, which allowed us to put a schedule in place for this milestone event years ago. And we’re so thankful to her for what she has helped build here – we’re excited to continue building on her legacy! While we’ll miss working with her, we wish her all the best as she moves forward into the next phase of her life!”
While Judy is retiring from Nitsch Engineering, she will remain involved in the architecture/engineering/ construction (AEC) industry. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Boston Architectural College and is an Emerita Trustee at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). She also serves on three boards: for Pennoni Associates, an engineering firm in Philadelphia; for Ayers Saint Gross, an architecture firm in Baltimore; and for Eastern Bank in Boston. Judy will also continue to serve on the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Building Operations’ Industry Advisory Group, performing peer reviews of embassies and consulates around the world, which she has been doing since 2014.