Leadership Transition
For only the 4th time in the company’s 80-year history, Three Notch Group will have a new Chief Executive. Matt Hames will become the firm's next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Hames succeeds Mark Pugh, who has led the company as President and CEO for the past 23 years and helped build it into one of the Southeast’s most respected consulting firms in the environment and infrastructure space. Pugh will transition into the role of Senior Principal, continuing to build key relationships while providing strategic counsel as Board Chair.
Introducing Matt Hames
Matt brings a 12-year history with Three Notch Group to his new role, having first consulted with the firm as an outside strategic advisor for a decade before joining the executive team as Chief Growth Officer in late 2024. As CGO he has led strategic planning, brand strategy, merger and acquisition efforts, and the pursuit of market expansion across the organization.
Hames will leverage a career with nearly 30 years of experience in consulting and professional services with roles including founder and CEO of a bank trust company and Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer for the National Christian Foundation. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, specializing in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Creation, from Kennesaw State University, where he also played four years of collegiate basketball on scholarship. Matt serves on several boards including the Kennesaw State University Athletic Association, the Cherokee County Hospital Authority, and Kingdom Advisors.
“I am truly grateful for the trust our Board has placed in me to lead us toward the next horizon,” Hames said. “We are blessed to have a team of amazing people here who care deeply for each other and the clients we serve.”
Looking Ahead
Hames will officially assume the President and CEO role on July 1, 2026. This transition reflects Three Notch Group’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful planning and long-term stability for its clients, employees, and partners, while positioning the firm for continued growth across the Southeast.
"Leading Three Notch Group for the past 23 years has been the privilege of my career. I'm deeply grateful to our clients, our communities, and especially our people for trusting us along the way,” said Pugh. “I leave this role grateful and excited about the next chapter for Three Notch."
About Three Notch Group
Founded in 1946, Three Notch Group has grown from a single office in Andalusia, Alabama, into a regional firm with eleven offices across four states and more than 220 employees. For 80 years, we have partnered with businesses, industries, developers, public entities, and community leaders to turn vision into reality. Through trusted guidance, proven expertise, and lasting relationships, we help clients navigate complexity, reduce risk, and create meaningful progress. From critical infrastructure to environmental stewardship initiatives, our work leaves a lasting impact on the communities we serve across the Southeast.
Three Notch Group is #385 on the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms ranking and a 2025 member of the industry’s Circle of Excellence.
