Ulteig is at present nonetheless headquartered in Fargo, however its footprint has grown considerably over the previous 77 years. It has workplaces in additional than 40 states and now one within the worldwide market.
The corporate in late April finalized the acquisition of NLS Engineering in Hamilton, Ontario.
This can be a boon to not solely the corporate that now crosses the border between two nations, nevertheless it’s an indication of extra good issues to come back. It means extra expert expertise for staff members to faucet between workplaces within the U.S. and Canada, stated Ulteig President and CEO Doug Jaeger.
The acquisition provides 39 new workers to the corporate – three principals, together with NLS Engineering President and CEO Mark Presti. The opposite workers are primarily engineers and technical professionals, in addition to supporting workers members.
Mark PrestiPicture: Courtesy of Ulteig
“That’s actually the primary motive for the acquisition,” Jaeger stated. “We’re a individuals enterprise. We’re solely nearly as good as our individuals, and we’re gaining some actually unbelievable expertise.”
Jaeger stated exterior of this newest acquisition, the corporate has continued to increase over the previous a number of years, from about 320 workers in 2015 when he arrived to just about 750 at present; 170 new positions have been crammed over the previous 12 months. What is maybe extra notable, he stated, is that the enlargement into Canada occurred in the course of the pandemic when borders have been closed.
That made each corporations, Ulteig and NLS, suppose exterior the field about the best way to make the partnership work. Jaeger stated since his staff couldn’t get into Canada, Presti and his staff got here to the U.S. Additionally they did a number of digital conferences.
He stated every time Ulteig does an acquisition, it considers at the very least 4 issues.
“One among them is their expertise. The second factor is their popularity, and our popularity. Are they a very good match?” he stated. “We imagine NLS has an outstanding popularity within the system integration trade. Third is tradition, and that is the toughest half to determine whenever you’re assembly nearly. So we spent a number of time attending to know one another’s tradition and ensuring it was a robust cultural match for them and for us. And fourth, actually, are the monetary advantages of the acquisition.”
One profit Jaeger is worked up about is that the Ontario workplace can entry the experience of Ulteig staff members, and vice versa.
Jaeger stated his aim is twofold: Convey Ulteig’s experience to shoppers in Canada, and NLS’s experience to shoppers within the U.S. About 75% of NLS’s enterprise already is within the U.S.
“We’ve an enormous consumer base within the renewables and water house and we wish to convey their competency to our shoppers,” he stated. “In order that’s actually the main focus, to develop {our capability} into their consumer base and develop their functionality into our consumer base.”
Staff are being phased again into workplaces, however some workers might select to proceed working from house. That’s OK – however Jaeger stated he needs to keep up the corporate’s tradition, even whereas many might proceed working remotely and particularly now with a brand new Canada workplace.
As such, workplace environments might look totally different. One thing it’s doing is investing in “collaboration facilities,” principally areas the place workers can come collectively infrequently to debate tasks and concepts with their colleagues.
Jaeger, who is worked up in regards to the route the corporate is headed, stated Ulteig expects to increase its footprint over the subsequent 5 years.
“We’re 77 years this 12 months,” he stated. “I believe Mel can be fairly amazed to know that that firm he created is now a world firm. We do that in 44 states and now in Ontario.”