As Steadfast has grown, the way we lead the company has grown with it. Over the summer, founder Doug Rasmussen transitioned from Chief Executive Officer to Founder and Strategic Advisor. At the same time, Cecilia Dvorak (CEO), Margaret Riter (Chief Strategy and Growth Officer), and Dominique Reid (Chief Operating and Finance Officer) assumed full ownership of Steadfast and responsibility for what comes next.

When Doug founded Steadfast in April 2019, the vision was ambitious but straightforward: to create a new multidisciplinary model in economic development that co-elevated all involved – businesses, developers, communities, neighborhoods, and people. He founded a firm capable of delivering exceptional site selection, incentives, and investment consulting services while helping communities, developers, and organizations move projects from possibility to execution creating both real estate and economic impact without losing sight of the people and communities affected by that work.

From sardining into 1-person offices across St. Louis to holding team summits in double-digit negative temps along Lakes Erie and Ontario, the early days are best characterized by an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit that demanded creativity, resourcefulness, and a fearless willingness to tackle challenges head on.

Today, Steadfast is a nationally recognized consulting firm serving developers, companies, and communities across more than 25 states. What began as a startup has evolved into a multidisciplinary organization with a talented team, national reach, and an increasingly complex portfolio of high-impact engagements.

Most importantly, Steadfast has evolved into an enterprise built on shared leadership and collective expertise.

Why This Transition Makes Sense

Growth has required Steadfast to change continuously. As a 2x Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Businesses honoree, Steadfast is no stranger to transitions and have mastered the artful balance of staying true to the mission while permitting change to take root. We believe the ability to evolve while maintaining stability is one of the most important signs of a healthy organization.

This transition did not happen overnight. Over several years, leadership of the company has become increasingly shared with Cecilia, Margaret, Dominique and others taking on greater responsibility for teams, clients, operations, growth, and the direction of the firm. The ownership transition formalizes what had already been taking shape inside the company and positions Steadfast for continued innovation, stability, and long-term success.

Doug will continue to play an active role as Founder and Strategic Advisor, supporting key initiatives and client work, mentoring and providing advisement while allowing day-to-day leadership and future growth to be driven by the next generation of owners, with Cecilia Dvorak serving as Chief Executive Officer.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

The scrappiness of Steadfast will look different in action but not in principle. In 2019 and still today, every client and every project matters. We want to keep the curiosity, urgency, and willingness to figure things out that defined the early years, even as the company becomes more established.

As CEO, Cecilia Dvorak’s background spans public-sector planning, private-sector development, economic development, and firm leadership experience. Over the past several years, Cecilia has helped lead and transform Steadfast from a growing startup consultancy into a trusted firm serving increasingly complex clients and projects across the country. Her role has expanded with the company – from leading projects and client work to helping shape service offerings, strengthening project delivery systems, and building the leadership structure needed for its next stage of growth. During her tenure on the firm's senior leadership team, Steadfast expanded its geographic reach from 14 states to more than 25 while generating nearly $12 million in consulting revenue.

Working alongside Margaret and Dominique, Cecilia’s focus is on building on what already works while continuing to build upon the firm's entrepreneurial foundation to make Steadfast stronger, deeper, and better at what we do best.

The photos in the gallery are a bit like the soundtrack of Steadfast's early years: our earliest offices, our first client site visits, building team traditions – these milestones helped shape Steadfast's identity. They serve as reminders of where we started and just how far we've come together.

This leadership transition is not the end of the song. It’s a change in tempo, and the next verse is already taking shape

And we invite you to help us write what happens next.