GeoHeroes - Leo Titus
About This Episode
In this episode Guy Marcozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-marcozzi-b12744a/) interviews Leo J. Titus, Jr. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leotitusjrpe/), PE, F.GBA, COO of Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) (https://www.ecslimited.com/), about resilience, leadership, and giving back to the geotechnical community. Leo shares his remarkable journey from a teenager working at a racetrack to leading a 2,800-person engineering firm, while navigating profound personal challenges including his deployment to the Pentagon on 9/11 as part of the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue team and the tragic loss of his wife to cancer. Leo reveals how these experiences shaped his people-first leadership philosophy and passion for mentoring the next generation. Packed with career wisdom, this episode offers invaluable insights on professional growth, the importance of industry involvement, and finding perspective through life's toughest moments.
About Our Guest
Leo J. Titus, Jr. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leotitusjrpe/), PE, F.GBA is Chief Operating Officer of ECS, Ltd. a national geotechnical, environmental, materials testing and facilities engineering firm. A graduate of Clarkson University, he has been an active leader in industry organizations including serving as president of GBA in 2022-2023, chairman of ASTM E36 committee from 2016 to 2021, and two terms as president of WACEL. Mr. Titus has been an active member of the community and was a member of Fairfax County's Urban Search and Rescue team for eleven years, being deployed to the Pentagon on September 11, 2001; as well as being a top fundraiser, along with his family, for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, raising over $350,000 since the passing of his first wife in 2003.
Our Host
Guy Marcozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-marcozzi-b12744a/), PE, D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, is a GBA past-president and an experienced CEO, President and Board Member with a demonstrated history of working in the engineering, science and data technology industries and in leadership for various boards of ESOP, non-profit, professional and business organizations.
Show Notes
Introduction
Leo Titus, Chief Operating Officer of Engineering Consulting Services (ECS)
Lives and works in Northern Virginia
ECS: 2,800 employees, 100 locations nationwide
Early Life and Education
Born in Western New York, grew up in Saratoga Springs, New York
Worked summers at horse racing track as teenager in concessions/bar support
Learned valuable life lessons about how people treat each other
Witnessed gambling addiction, which taught him moderation
B/B+ student through high school and early college
Initially pursued mechanical engineering, inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey
Switched to civil engineering after struggling with dynamics class
Graduated from Clarkson University in 1991 during recession
Career Path
Started at PSI doing geotechnical materials testing services
Became branch manager in Worcester, Massachusetts at age 23 with minimal experience
Moved to ECS as project engineer to focus on learning engineering
Progressed through roles: project engineer → department manager → office manager → Mid-Atlantic president (2007-2021) → COO
Company grew from 12-13 people in 1988 to current size
Leadership
Early management success based on listening to both upper management and field workers
Served as mediator/buffer between different organizational levels
Life-changing experiences shaped leadership philosophy
These experiences provided perspective on what's truly important
Believes in learning from both positive and negative management examples
The Geoprofessional Landscape & Life Advice
Fundamentals of geotechnical engineering remain unchanged
Technology and communication tools have evolved significantly
Sees AI as helpful tool, not disruptive force
Believes relationships with clients and employees are fundamental to success
Basic client expectations: timely delivery, good communication
Optimistic about profession's future despite challenges like technical talent shortage
Life Advice
Get actively involved in professional organizations like GBA
Don't just attend meetings - serve on committees and be engaged
Ask more questions to better understand clients and employees
Focus on building relationships and communication skills
Bring outside involvement back to benefit your company
Speed Round
Favorite Book: David McCullough's historical works (Johnstown Flood (https://a.co/d/ewVifBL), Great Bridge (https://a.co/d/8YmC2bR), Panama Canal (https://a.co/d/1Z92xxV), Wright Brothers (https://a.co/d/2A4mOnu))
Optimism index: 5 out of 5
Advice for newcomers: Get involved in professional organizations
Biggest impact: Teaching and mentoring, especially inspiring students to enter geotechnical engineering
Regrets: None, but would ask more questions to learn about employees and clients
Final Thoughts
Actively participate in professional associations
Your involvement will help improve the entire industry
Calls-to-action:
Visit the GBA Website at https://www.geoprofessional.org for other training resources and reference materials and/or to become a member.
Visit https://www.gbapodcast.com for future podcast episodes
Contact us at info@geoprofessional.org with any podcast-related questions or comments
Subscribe
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This episode was produced by the following GBA Members:
Ryan White, PE, GE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankwhite/) – Principal Geotechnical Engineer/Apex (https://apexcos.com/)
