ESA is excited to announce that Lisa Kay has joined the firm as ESA’s first Chief Growth Officer (CGO). In this executive role, Kay will lead ESA’s firmwide growth strategy, aligning business development, client engagement, and marketing to strengthen the firm’s market position, expand its client base, and drive sustainable growth across its six markets. She will also serve as Water Market Leader, advancing ESA’s strategy and presence in one of its largest client sectors.
Kay brings more than 30 years of experience leading growth and transformation in the environmental consulting and A/E/C industry, most recently as Chief Growth Officer at NV5. Over her career, she has driven the expansion of multiple national and global firms through strategic sales initiatives, operational integration, and mergers and acquisitions. Known for her collaborative, people-focused leadership, Kay is recognized for developing high-performing teams and fostering cultures of accountability and innovation.
“As we continue to grow and navigate the dynamic and unyielding pace of market change, including regulatory policy shifts and AI-driven innovation, the time is right to expand our executive leadership team,” said Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moulton-Post. “Lisa’s proven ability to achieve success and build culture by empowering teams is at the cornerstone of our ethos here at ESA. We are thrilled to have her on board to guide our next phase of growth.”
Kay’s technical expertise in water resources, environmental policy, and infrastructure aligns closely with ESA’s core services. She has advised public agencies and private clients across the western United States on watershed management, stormwater policy, and sustainability planning, and in 2019 was appointed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to an expert advisory task force on stormwater infrastructure finance.
“I have long admired the caliber of work and people at ESA, having the opportunity to team with various employee-owners on projects over the past several decades,” said Kay. “Building on the firm’s strong client-focused and market-led foundation, I’m excited to bring strategies that deepen collaboration, enhance value for our clients and teams, and contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.”
Kay holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Texas A&M University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and is a Past Board Chair of the Chamber.
