Subject: Exciting Company Announcement
From: KFlanagan <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:44:32 +0000

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to share with you that today, Stratus Consulting, an environmental research and consulting firm serving public and private sector clients, is merging with Abt Associates.

The combined capabilities of Stratus and Abt Associates’ environmental division will operate as the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) division. The ENR division will be led by Dr. Joshua Lipton, former president and CEO of Stratus Consulting, who will become division vice president and report to Jay Knott, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. Mike Conti, who has led Abt’s environmental division, will become the new division’s chief operating officer.

Strengthening our environmental capabilities has been a priority for us, and this merger takes us to a new level.  Stratus gives us entry into a strong addressable U.S. market in natural resource damage assessment and restoration analysis. This merger also deepens Abt’s capabilities in environmental and ecological sciences, and strengthens our climate change capabilities. Stratus brings new markets and clients such as the Department of Justice and states, enabling us to have broader impact on our clients’ toughest environmental problems

There is a strong alignment of project portfolios, values and culture of Stratus and Abt Associates. Both firms are committed to high quality, rigorous work that improves people’s lives. Over the years, Abt and Stratus staff have worked successfully together on several projects. There are many positive synergies between our two companies and opportunities for staff development and growth will be a priority.

Beginning immediately, the new ENR division will execute a coordinated strategy, business development and staff resourcing process. Over the next year, Stratus’s operations will be integrated into Abt Associates, and the two firms will be fully integrated by April 1, 2016.  A team consisting of Josh Lipton, Mike Conti, Frank Divita, former Stratus EVP Chuck Herrick, and Yvonne Abel, director of People and Culture Initiatives, will oversee the integration process under the direction of Jay Knott.

I know you will join me in welcoming our new colleagues to Abt Associates and in supporting the Environment and Natural Resources division.

Please feel free to reach out to me or to Jay Knott with any questions.

All the best,

Kathleen

Kathleen L. Flanagan |President and CEO | Abt Associates

4550 Montgomery Ave | Suite 800 North | Bethesda MD 20814

office: 301.634.1705 | [email-masked]  | www.abtassociates.com

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