The Emerging Leaders graduates with former and current company leaderships standing together in an indoor space.

Celebrating Our 2026 Emerging Leaders

On June 17, we celebrated the 2026 graduates of the Stephen W. Cole Emerging Leaders Program with a luncheon event. The event honored the hard work and accomplishments of this year’s participants and gave graduates the opportunity to share their key takeaways.

Participants completed both group and individual projects and took part in training that explored different aspects of the firm and its operations.

  • Heath ONeill with his Emerging Leaders mentor, Mike St. Pierre, standing next to each other and smiling in an indoor space.
    Emerging Leader graduate Heath ONeill (right) with mentor Mike St. Pierre
  • Emma Dennis with her Emerging Leaders mentor, Bob Chaput, standing next to each other and smiling in an indoor space.
    Emerging Leaders graduate Emma Dennis (right) with mentor Bob Chaput
  • Sean Giroux with his Emerging Leaders mentor, Derek Mello, standing next to each other and smiling in an indoor space.
    Emerging Leaders graduate Sean Giroux (right) with mentor Derek Mello
  • Edwardo Baldera Mendez with his Emerging Leaders mentor, Dave Dunning, standing next to each other and smiling in an indoor space.
    Emerging Leaders graduate Edwardo Baldera Mendez (left) with mentor Dave Dunning
  • Jethro Celamy with his Emerging Leaders mentor, Evan Walker, pointing at each other and smiling in an indoor space.
    Emerging Leaders graduate Jethro Celamy (left) with mentor Evan Walker

The Graduates

Edwardo Baldera Mendez joined S. W. Cole in 2024 and was recently promoted to Construction Services Technician – Grade II at our Easton, Massachusetts office. His individual project evaluated the Construction Services Manager role at our firm, identifying key responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

Jethro Celamy joined our team in 2023 and is a Project Geotechnical Engineer based at our Riverside, Rhode Island location. His individual project examined how he and his supervisor perceive each other’s roles, identifying similarities and differences and offering recommendations to improve communication, role clarity, and overall job satisfaction.

Emma Dennis has been a part of S. W. Cole since 2022 and was recently promoted to Project Geotechnical Engineer at our Somersworth, New Hampshire office. Her individual project evaluated the role, responsibilities, authority, and overall effectiveness of project managers within the firm.

Sean Giroux joined S. W. Cole in 2018 and is a Staff Accountant & Analyst based in Bangor, Maine. His individual project focused on developing a training program to help team members better understand the firm’s professional liability insurance policy.

Heath ONeill joined our team in 2024 and currently serves as the Construction Services Manager at our White River Junction, Vermont office. His individual project explored how the firm defines, communicates, supports, measures, and rewards excellence.

We thank this year’s class for the effort and quality of their work throughout the program. Congratulations on your graduation! We look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.

The Emerging Leaders graduates with former and current company leaderships standing together in an indoor space.
Left to right: Firm founder Steve Cole, Emerging Leaders graduate Edwardo Baldera Mendez, CEO Bob Chaput, and Emerging Leaders graduates Jethro Celamy, Emma Dennis, Heath ONeill, and Sean Giroux