Fernando Rios

Fernando Rios, CFO and Chairman of the Board, has been with CAPE since the company’s inception for a total of 40 years. Fernando began his professional career in September 1981 after graduating from the National University of Colombia in Bogotá. Shortly after graduating, he relocated to Rochester, NY in January 1982, setting the stage for a long and impactful career in environmental engineering. He joined the company, then known as Armour, CAPE and Pond, in February 1984 as an entry-level engineer. The transition to CAPE Environmental Management Inc followed shortly as it was established in August 1985.

Over the years, Fernando has held several roles at CAPE, including Engineer (1985), Director of Operations (1987), and ultimately CEO in 1991. That same year, he purchased the company and assumed the role of Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, CAPE evolved from a modest asbestos consulting firm into a full-service environmental remediation company, growing from $2 million in annual revenue in 1991 to $85 million by 2024.

Fernando’s leadership style has remained consistent throughout his tenure—rooted in servant leadership. He is known for his humility, empathy, and commitment to empowering others, always placing the needs of employees first and fostering a culture of teamwork and growth.

Looking ahead, Fernando envisions CAPE continuing to expand and diversify within the environmental sector, staying true to its mission: to protect, restore, and improve the environment for future generations.

“CAPE is full of outstanding employees aligned around our Mission and working together to deliver outstanding results for our clients, our employees, our shareholders and our planet.”