SALINA — When Barton & Loguidice D.P.C. (B&L) closed on its acquisition of a New Jersey firm in mid-June, it was the fourth acquisition the local firm had completed since April 2018. B&L on June 14 closed on its purchase of Cummings & Smith Inc. of Fairfield, New Jersey, says John Brusa, Jr., president and […]
SALINA — When Barton & Loguidice D.P.C. (B&L) closed on its acquisition of a New Jersey firm in mid-June, it was the fourth acquisition the local firm had completed since April 2018.
B&L on June 14 closed on its purchase of Cummings & Smith Inc. of Fairfield, New Jersey, says John Brusa, Jr., president and CEO of Barton & Loguidice.
Besides that transaction, B&L also acquired Advance Land and Water Inc., a firm located near Baltimore, Maryland, in March of this year; Steinmetz Planning Group, which has offices in Rochester and Buffalo, in September 2018; and Eberlin & Eberlin, P.C., a Brewster, New York–based planning and landscape architecture company, in April 2018.
The latest deal
Cummings & Smith is a civil-engineering firm specializing in the solid-waste management sector, servicing clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“They’ve been a competitor in the same market area that we’ve worked in. They’re an established firm [having operated] for 30 years,” says Brusa, who spoke with CNYBJ on July 22.
B&L is a Salina–based engineering, planning, environmental and landscape architecture firm with more than 270 employees throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
When asked about the firm’s strategy with acquisitions, Brusa noted that B&L’s regional name recognition makes it easier to grow organically with new hires and projects in Central New York. But organic growth “can be really difficult, especially in new market areas.”
“When you start branching out, especially into other states, other markets, it’s difficult to get the name out there, especially where there’s other established firms in the area,” Brusa notes.
He says some established engineering, planning, and landscape architecture firms have leaders that are working toward retirement and may not have anyone on staff who wants to assume the leadership role. That makes them potential acquisition candidates.
With the baby boomers pursuing transition possibilities, “…it makes a lot of sense to look into the acquisitions for growth,” says Brusa.
When pursuing a purchase, B&L examines a firm’s clients, its success and profitability, and if it’s “going to fit culturally.”
“If there [are] any issues where we see that the firms just don’t align from our values standpoint, it’s just not even worth pursuing,” he adds.
When asked if Barton & Loguidice has any additional acquisitions in the works during 2019, Brusa replies, “I can’t say at this point.”
Latest acquisition
B&L’s acquisition of Cummings & Smith is one that the local company believes will help grow its waste-management business. Brusa believes the two companies align well in terms of service, culture, and value.
The local firm didn’t release any terms of its acquisition agreement, but Brusa says, “It was an asset-purchase agreement.”
Cummings & Smith is now operating as Barton & Loguidice, Gary Smith, president and co-founder of Cummings & Smith, has joined B&L as a senior managing engineer in the solid waste practice area. Smith is based in the firm’s New Jersey office. Three staff members, formerly with Cummings & Smith, have also joined B&L.