ESA is pleased to announce that it has acquired 48 North Solutions, Inc. (48 NORTH). Headquartered in Issaquah, WA, the six-person firm—long recognized for its work in marine and freshwater environments—joins ESA’s Pacific Northwest region. The added expertise this team brings will greatly strengthen ESA’s Fish and Aquatic Sciences practice, and expand service offerings for clients in the energy, community development, and technology markets.
Founded in 1969, ESA has steadily grown into a company of more than 750 employee-owners who provide planning, design, permitting, technology, mitigation, and habitat restoration services for projects serving communities, critical infrastructure, and natural lands. Founded in 2013, 48 NORTH is well-known for providing feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement and outreach, and permitting assistance for its clients who are focused on restoration, renewable energy, submarine cable installation, and climate change/resilience project in marine and freshwater environments. The acquisition is a natural next step for both firms as the two have teamed together on multiple projects in the Puget Sound area and California.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the 48 NORTH team to ESA,” said Leslie Moulton-Post, ESA President and CEO. “We have long admired the innovative solutions to permitting and environmental analysis that 48 NORTH brings to clients, and we are thrilled to add this thought leadership and technical expertise to ESA’s portfolio.”
48 NORTH founder Cameron Fisher will serve on ESA’s leadership team as its Director of Marine Infrastructure. Fisher and his team of environmental scientists will relocate to ESA’s office at Pier 70 on Seattle’s waterfront, where they will continue to provide superior client service, deep technical expertise, and the highest quality work products.
“Having worked with ESA for a number of years now, it’s obvious that they care deeply about their clients and their employees, so it was a natural evolution to join the ESA team,” said Fisher. “I am excited about the additional muti-disciplinary services we can bring to our clients and the opportunities that employee-ownership brings to staff.”
ESA’s history includes several notable mergers and acquisitions that have served to deepen the firm’s technical services capabilities. Read more about these here.
