Gannett Fleming merges with Missouri company to accelerate growth

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Camp Hill-based Gannett Fleming, a portfolio company of OceanSound Partners, has completed a strategic merger with TranSystems, a provider of transportation-focused engineering and infrastructure services. 

The engineering and infrastructure solutions provider said together, the companies have about $1.3 billion in revenue and a workforce of more than 5,000 employees. 

The merger with the Kansas, Missouri-based company creates Gannett Fleming TranSystems, a provider of infrastructure consulting services with geographic coverage and deepened capabilities across the transportation end market, enhancing its ability to serve its base of government and commercial clients across North America, they said in a release. 

“The combination of Gannett Fleming and TranSystems creates a preeminent engineering firm with the scale and depth to solve our clients’ most complex infrastructure challenges,” said Bob Scaer, who retired as Gannett Fleming’s CEO upon completion of the transaction. “This merger bolsters our position within bridges, highways, construction services, mass transit & rail, and program management and provides our customers with an end-to-end solution across multiple modes of transportation.” 

Gannett Fleming TranSystems said both companies have been recognized as top 20 providers on the Engineering News-Record rankings for transportation design services. The merger will accelerate growth through the cross-selling of complementary services across the water, environmental, and power end markets, driven by sector expertise and repeat business from long-standing clients, they said. 

With the closing of the transaction, Scaer transitioned to the Board of Directors. The new company said in his new role, Scaer will help to identify and recruit a new CEO and assist the management team with business development, customer relations, and acquisition activities. 

Tim Rock, CEO of TranSystems, takes over as president and COO of the company alongside Jim Nevada, president and CFO. They will jointly lead the company while the Board leads the search for a new CEO, the company said. 

“Gannett Fleming is a storied franchise in the infrastructure consulting market, and I could not be prouder of my time as the CEO and employee,” Scaer said. “Since December 2022, OceanSound has helped us accelerate growth and improve our operational efficiency well beyond our expectations. As a result, Gannett Fleming has never been in a stronger position, making now the right time to transition to the next generation of leadership.” 

Rock added, “This is a transformational combination that will better position us to capture growth in the market, providing our employees with more career opportunities and our customers with a broader range of services. 

“I am confident our technical excellence, shared cultural values, and passion for innovation will facilitate integration, contribute to our strategic value creation initiatives, provide meaningful professional development opportunities for our employees, and create long-term value for our communities and clients,” Rock said. 

“When we invested in Gannett Fleming, we intended to capitalize on its respected franchise in the infrastructure services market and transform it into a more scaled and differentiated business positioned at the forefront of industry growth and innovation. With this transformative transaction, we have taken a major step towards fulfilling our vision and remain committed to continue building a premier national infrastructure services company,” said Joe Benavides, chairman of Gannett Fleming and managing partner of OceanSound Partners.  

“On behalf of Gannett Fleming’s Board of Directors, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for Bob’s extensive contributions to Gannett Fleming during his 41 years with the company, including seven years as CEO. His thought leadership, dedication to innovation, and bold strategy to pursue the partnership with OceanSound, including the recent transactions, have substantially strengthened Gannett Fleming’s ability to continue building on its 109-year legacy.”