By Deirdre R. Schwiesow CHOOSING GENERATION EXT L When it's time to o s i n g one or more key principals, either pass the torch of t h r o u g h retirement leadership, will your o r an unexpected firm be ready? d e a t h or disability, can be disastrous for an engi- neering firm if the company hasn't formalized an owner- ship transition plan. Fortu- n a t e l y, says Colvin Mathe- s o n , managing director of the Arlington, Va., company Matheson Financial Advisors In c . , With the right plan- ning, business succession can DEREK LEA be managed quite well. 2 4 ENGINEERING INC. J u l y l August 2004