Forte and Tablada has acquired this local consulting firm

Forte and Tablada has acquired Baton Rouge-based Professional Engineering Consultants, the companies announced Thursday. 

The deal enhances Forte and Tablada’s capabilities in water, sewer and public utility infrastructure, as well as transportation, according to a press release. Together, Forte and Tablada and PEC will form a regional force with 130 staff members, offering a highly technical focus across engineering and surveying disciplines. The combined firm will remain locally owned and operated in Louisiana. 

Joey Coco, president and CEO of Forte & Tablada, called the acquisition a natural fit, citing the two companies’ shared history and values. Tony Arikol, president of PEC, said the deal opens a new chapter for PEC. Coco declined to share financial details of the transaction. 

The leadership of PEC reached out to Forte and Tablada last year and the two companies began discussing the potential deal, which closes at the end of the month, according to Coco, who praised the deal as preserving the strong local legacy of the two companies.

“With the sheer amount of outside-of-state activity, with companies buying local firms, this deal is local people preserving local legacies, which I think is neat,” Coco says. “We’re preserving Louisiana-based companies and expand opportunities through this deal.” 

The leadership of PEC is largely expected to remain in place. PEC Principal and CFO Jim Otken will join Forte and Tablada as its organization’s CFO.