CHA acquires Coler & Colantonio

ALBANY, N.Y. — CHA Consulting Inc. acquired Coler & Colantonio Inc., one of Boston’s largest engineering firms, creating a 1,400–person global firm. Coler & Colantonio has 175 staff in eight offices in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Texas, and Vermont. They offer energy infrastructure, land development, geospatial, government, environmental, water and wastewater design and operation, and specialty high order survey engineering. They also have proprietary utility asset management software.

“Coler & Colantonio’s staff have a skill set that meshes well with ours,” said Ray Rudolph, P.E., CHA’s CEO. “They bring tremendous expertise to the table, particularly in utility infrastructure.” Notably, Coler & Colantonio offers asset management tools, including its flagship INTREPID software, that allow utilities to efficiently and cost-effectively manage their infrastructure.

“Our combined talent sets us apart,” said Jim Colantonio, Coler & Colantonio’s president. “Clients don’t hire firms; they hire experts. Both firms have some of the most respected professionals in a wide range of subject matters. Working together, the possibilities are endless.” He noted that the acquisition will allow their clients to benefit from CHA’s full range of architecture, engineering and construction services.

Despite the difficult economy of the past four years, CHA is on track to achieve its growth targets. “The acquisition of Coler & Colantonio reinforces our commitment to grow by adding expertise that creates value for our clients,” Rudolph noted. The firm anticipates having a workforce of 2,000 by 2016.