2026 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders: Jason Pancoast, Envicon Group

“Jason Pancoast has spent 20+ years turning contaminated sites into productive NY/NJ real estate. A multi-state licensed PE, he leads Envicon’s technical execution on complex brownfield and infrastructure projects while integrating an LLM to develop tech-enabled solutions unique to competitors and tailored to clients. His commitment to local hiring and inclusive teaming sets a growth standard.” 

How do you inspire, motivate, or mentor others within your organization?

I hire from the communities we serve and give people real responsibility early. Every engineer on my team works directly with regulators, clients, and contractors from day one. I do not believe in years of busywork before someone earns a seat at the table. I also partner with small and diverse firms on every pursuit I can, because the industry gets stronger when more people have access to meaningful project roles. Mentoring is showing someone what the work actually looks like, then trusting them to do it.

What book, podcast, or app has most influenced your approach to leadership?

Rework, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.

What is one major challenge you’ve overcome as a leader, and what did it teach you?

Building an engineering firm that competes with companies ten times our size. Early on I had the technical credentials but no playbook for running a business. I learned to treat overhead the way I treat site risk: measure it, control it, and never let it grow unchecked. Staying lean forced us to adopt technology before our competitors did, and it kept our principals on every project instead of behind desks. The lesson that stuck: discipline in operations creates freedom in execution. We move faster because we run tighter.

What recent accomplishment or initiative are you most proud of, and what impact did it have on your firm, clients, or community?

Leading environmental remediation on Riverside Park South Phase 6 for NYC Parks, one of the first projects subject to the city’s CEQR process. We transformed a former Penn Central railyard on Manhattan’s Upper West Side into public parkland with athletic fields, courts, and open space. My team managed 13,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, installed engineered cap systems, and maintained public access throughout construction. Navigating that regulatory framework early gave Envicon firsthand fluency in a process that will now touch every major development in the city.

What advice would you share with emerging professionals striving to become future leaders in commercial real estate?

Learn what happens below grade. Every transaction, every redevelopment, every rezoning touches environmental conditions that can stall a deal or sink a budget. The professionals who understand site risk at a technical level will always have an edge over those who treat it as a checkbox. Get on a site. Read a Phase I. Understand what regulators need and why. The future of commercial real estate in this region depends on unlocking brownfield sites that others walk away from, and that requires people willing to get into the details.

What daily habit or routine helps you stay focused or motivated as a leader?

First hour: Gratitude journal, plan the day, and call field team members 1 by 1.

Who has had the greatest impact on your career or leadership journey?

My parents, both were hardworking small business owners in North Caldwell, NJ.