Global Firm Acquires Pasadena Transit Engineering Company, Ramos Consulting Services

A global professional services company has acquired a Pasadena-based transit engineering firm that has worked on some of Southern California’s most significant public transit projects.

Colliers International Group Inc. announced Tuesday that its U.S. engineering division acquired Ramos Consulting Services Inc., a program management, construction management, and engineering firm headquartered at 150 S. Los Robles Ave. The firm’s 50 employees have supported more than $20 billion in capital programs across California since founder Armando Ramos, a licensed professional engineer, started the company in 2008, according to Colliers.

The acquisition brings a Pasadena company into the fold of a Toronto-based firm with $5.5 billion in annual revenues and 24,000 employees worldwide. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Under the deal, Ramos and his senior leadership team will continue to run the California transit business and will become significant shareholders in Colliers Engineering, the company said. The arrangement follows what Colliers calls its “partnership model” for acquisitions.

“Joining Colliers represents an exciting and strengthened new chapter for our people and our clients,” Ramos said in a statement. “Colliers’ commitment to technical excellence, culture, and client service aligns seamlessly with how we’ve built our business. Together, we will continue to take on larger, more complex projects and offer broader solutions to our clients.”

Ramos Consulting Services has worked on transit projects that run through the San Gabriel Valley, according to the company. The firm provided program management support services for the North San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, a 19-mile bus rapid transit project connecting North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, and Pasadena, according to Los Angeles Metro board documents.

The company also supported the $1.8 billion Regional Connector light rail project for seven years, the firm has stated, and received a 2024 Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of California for its work on LA Metro’s Eastside Access Improvement Project.

Kevin L. Haney, president and CEO of Colliers Engineering & Design U.S., said in a statement that the acquisition strengthens his company’s position in California.

“Ramos’ reputation in the California transportation sector is exceptional,” Haney said. “Their deep project experience and longstanding relationships will meaningfully strengthen our growing infrastructure capabilities. We are thrilled to welcome their talented team to Colliers.”

AEC Advisors, through its registered broker-dealer affiliate AEC Transaction Services LLC, served as the exclusive financial advisor to Ramos Consulting Services, according to the press release.

Colliers, which trades on the Nasdaq and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol CIGI, operates through three divisions: real estate services, engineering, and investment management.