Dear Colleagues:

It is now approximately 60 days since we announced Abt’s acquisition of Stratus Consulting, now Abt Environmental Research (AER). This note is to inform you that the integration of AER into the new Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) division is moving along smartly.

Last week, a team of seventeen colleagues from across the company participated in a four-day working session to plan and accelerate the integration of AER into ENR.  The group drew on methods and guidance provided by expert consultants who are world leaders in the field of mergers and acquisitions, integration and assimilation. 

The integration of AER into ENR will be managed on a day to day basis by an Integration Management Office (IMO) within Abt Associates.  The IMO will be led by Chuck Herrick of AER, with Frank Divita (ENR) as co-lead.  Other key IMO staff include: Yvonne Abel (HR) (Human Resources), Tamara Anderson (AER) (logistics), Tess Davis (CorpComm) and Bob Dann (Finance). Under the guidance of the CBO and an executive steering committee, the IMO will:

·         lead, coordinate and sequence all aspects of  the integration process;

·         elicit input and feedback from stakeholders; and

·         communicate progress and answer questions.

The IMO’s near-term priority will be to develop a step-by-step work plan – or playbook - to guide the integration of AER into Abt policies, processes, and business functions, including human resources, accounting and finance, contracts, business development, project management, reputational capital, facilities, information technology, legal, communications, and ethics and compliance.  The playbook will name individuals responsible for each activity track, and include a schedule for all process steps and interim milestones.  The playbook process is necessarily complex and labor-intensive. I ask your full support if a member of the IMO team approaches you with a request for help or information.

The IMO will be supported by a group of “Ambassadors” including Karen Akins (HR), Nicole Barcikowski (IHD), Laura Cross (AER), Sarah Guroff (Finance), Jamie Holmes (AER), Dave Mills (AER), Jason Sethi (IT), Beth Teehan (SRBI), Connie Travers (AER),  Jason Vogel (AER) and Andy Weiss (SRBI).

The addition of AER expands significantly our company’s capabilities to integrate environmental and ecological sciences into its broad portfolio of work, ranging from health and social and economic policy to international development.  It also adds important depth to our capabilities in economics and policy analysis. Abt’s combined Environment and Natural Resources Division will offer our current and new clients unparalleled expertise in science, policy analysis, environmental economics and climate change evaluation. 

By April 2, 2016 the IMO will deliver a fully integrated, high performing Environment and Natural Resources Division within Abt Associates.

Best,

Jay

Jay L. Knott | Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer | Abt Associates

O: 301-347-5896| F: 301-828-9739 | www.abtassociates.com

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