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The 2025 Lerch Bates Forum was a powerful testament to the spirit of innovation, ownership and leadership that defines Team LB. Starting in the 1970s, the Lerch Bates Forum has become a tradition integral to our continued growth as a company for its central focus on developing our greatest asset: our people. Held in Colorado Springs, Colo., this year’s forum brought together nearly 300 employee-owners to celebrate, learn and network.
Among the many moments of creativity and inspiration, three standout individuals were honored for their exceptional contributions to the company and the industry:
The V. Quentin Bates Award, named after the visionary co-founder who established Lerch Bates as a 100% employee-owned company, is the highest individual honor bestowed at the Forum. This year, it was awarded to John Arther, Chief Financial Officer, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to sustainable growth, operational excellence and fostering a culture of ownership. John’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding Lerch Bates through strategic expansions and financial transformations while his stewardship of the ESOP and dedication to empowering employee-owners exemplifies the values that Quentin Bates championed.
Ryan Baker, Area Managing Director for South Texas, was honored as the 2025 ESOP Contributor of the Year. Known for his dynamic leadership and client-first mindset, Ryan has consistently gone above and beyond to embody the ownership culture that defines Lerch Bates. Ryan’s collaborative approach drives a sense of shared responsibility rooted in LB’s ownership mindset. His advocacy for mentorship, process improvement and team development has made a lasting impact on both his region and the broader ESOP with increased dividends, enhanced client satisfaction and much more.
The Charles Lerch Innovation Award, named after the LB’s founder and pioneer in vertical transportation consulting, celebrates bold thinking and transformative ideas. This year’s recipient, Ellen Kauffman, Senior Business Manager for Technology & Innovation, has led initiatives that reimagine how Lerch Bates delivers technical consulting in a digital-first world. Ellen’s work spans process automation, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration. Her ability to bridge engineering expertise with strategic innovation has positioned Lerch Bates at the forefront of technical consultancy.
In addition to these three key award recipients, Jeff Crowe, Lon Erlandson, Paul Raj Jesusdasan, Mike Lagana, Arnold Pinkney and Kevin Thompson were recognized for 15 years of service while Jeff Marsh, Tim Murphy and Dan Freeman were recognized for 20 years of service. Tim Murk was additionally recognized for his upcoming retirement alongside Greg Harris, who will retire at the end of the year.
“In today’s day and age it’s not all that common to have even 5 or 10 years with the same organization let alone 15 and 20 years,” said Eric Rupe, CEO of Lerch Bates. “We’re proud to have this many tenured team members, and incredibly excited for Tim and Greg as they embark on their next chapter as retirees. Thank you all for all you’ve done and continue to do to grow our ESOP and congratulations on retirement, Tim and Greg!”
As Lerch Bates approaches 80 years as a global leader in building lifecycle consulting, the Forum serves as a reminder that its greatest strength lies in its people. From honoring legacy to embracing the future, the 2025 Lerch Bates Forum was a celebration of what’s possible when ownership, innovation and excellence converge.
