Step Right Up: How All Staff 2026 Brought West Yost Together 

By David Garrison, Brand & Communications Manager

This article contains and answers the following:

There is a moment at every All Staff when it becomes clear this is not just another internal event. It is something more intentional. More human. More reflective of who we are as a firm.

At West Yost, even the name “All Staff” carries a bit of irony. Our President and CEO, Charles Duncan, has never been particularly fond of the word “staff.” He prefers “team.” And the distinction matters more than it might seem at first.

“Staff” can feel hierarchical. It can suggest a group that supports something, rather than a group that builds something together. “Team” on the other hand, reflects shared ownership, mutual reliance, and a belief that every individual plays a meaningful role in the outcome. It speaks to how work actually gets done at West Yost. Cross-sector, collaborative, and grounded in trust.

After experiencing All Staff 2026, it is hard to argue with that perspective. What took place over those two days was not a gathering of staff. It was a demonstration of a team in motion.

And yet, we keep the name. Because if there is one thing West Yost holds onto with pride, it is tradition. All Staff began in 2003 as a half-day meeting in the Davis office with coffee and pastries. Today, it is a multi-day, offsite experience that brings together team members from across the country. The evolution reflects not just growth in size, but growth in intention.

Our guest keynote speaker, Erin Stafford speaking to the West Yost team.

Designed With Purpose

One of the defining characteristics of All Staff 2026 was how clearly it reflected the voices of our team.

Throughout the year, we gather insight from workplace surveys, manager training programs, our Young Professionals group, and our middle management cohort (“Middlers”). Those inputs are not shelved. They are shaped into content. This year’s sessions, panels, and discussions were built directly from what our team has been asking for.

The result was unmistakable.

“The sessions and the keynote aligned to our needs and what we’ve been saying in surveys and smaller team meetings.”

Instead of long lectures or passive listening, the event emphasized interaction, reflection, and conversation. Breakouts were intentional. Panels were grounded in real challenges. Time was protected for connection.

“Very limited time listening to lectures, lots of time of guided self-reflection and hearing what others are working on.”

It is a deliberate shift toward learning that sticks.

Excellence Without Burnout

This year’s keynote set the tone for everything that followed.

Erin Stafford, author of The Type A Trap, challenged us to rethink how we pursue excellence. Her message was simple but powerful. High performance does not have to come at the expense of well-being.

That message carried through the entire day. From the “House of Mirrors” session on emotional intelligence to conversations sparked during CONNECT breakouts, the theme of balance, awareness, and sustainability was present everywhere.

And it resonated. When we asked our team what they are taking away from these sessions:

“Recognizing signs of burnout and using emotional intelligence more consciously.”

“Importance of conversations on burnout. Just talking about it does a lot.”

West Yost’s President and CEO, Charles Duncan. And our Ringleader.

“I felt very considered by the attention paid on burnout and work life balance.”

A Culture You Can Feel

If Friday was about reflection and growth, Thursday night was about connection and celebration.

The West Yost Midway: Carnival of Careers and Services transformed a reception into an experience. Each sector and career focus area created interactive booths that invited curiosity and conversation.

You could debug a PLC-powered Ferris wheel with the OTCR team, test your aim at a reimagined carnival game with Business Development, or sit with a “Water Oracle” and have your future read by the Water sector.

It was creative. It was unexpected. And it worked.

“The Carnival of Careers and Services was so much fun. It really helped me learn what the different groups do around the firm.”

It created space for something that is often hard to engineer in a distributed firm. Genuine connection.

“I had the chance to talk with multiple people, not just my business sector.”

“We’re on the same team.”

That sense of unity is not something every firm achieves, especially one that spans multiple offices and disciplines. At West Yost, it continues to be a defining strength.

Celebrating the Whole Team

All Staff is also a moment to celebrate the people behind the work.

From the Midway to the closing remarks, from spontaneous conversations to shared laughter, the energy of the event was driven by the people in the room.

That celebration extended beyond the firm itself. The Duck Dinner at the historic Firehouse in Old Sacramento brought together team members and their guests for an evening that honored not just the work, but the lives that support it.

More Than an Event

Perhaps the most telling feedback came in the simplest form.

“Very excited and proud to be part of West Yost.”

“West Yost invests in its people and makes the culture a priority.”

“Reinforces what a great organization I work for.”

These statements from our teams exemplify our culture.

All Staff 2026 was a success because it reflected who we are and who we are working to become.

The West Yost team in a breakout session.

A firm that listens.
A team that supports one another.
A culture that prioritizes growth, connection, and well-being.

At West Yost, we bring people together and build experiences that strengthen our collective impact.

So we can better serve our clients and communities and advance water resources for generations to come.