Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the rationale for the merger?

2. What is the mission of the new, merged organization?

3. How does the merger benefit current members and the government services industry at large?

4. What will the name of the new association be? Who will be leading it?

5. How will the new entity be governed?

6. How big is the combined association and what is the membership makeup? 

7. What are the strengths of the new organization?

8. When will the merger officially take place?

9. Who do I contact for more information about the merger?

10. Where will the new association be located?

11. How will this change the associations’ relationship with government?

12. Consolidation in the government services industry is a hot topic. How does this merger reflect on the current professional services market?

13. How will the PSC and CSA committee and task force structure change?

14. How will the merger impact membership dues?

15. How does the merger impact the association’s annual conferences, training sessions, events and meetings?

1. What is the rationale for the merger?

The Professional Services Council (PSC) and the Contract Services Association of America (CSA) have long shared a common mission to represent the interests of, speak for, and advocate on behalf of the federal government services industry. In light of the growing integration of the federal services industry, continued industry consolidation, and the growing policy and other challenges associated with the federal government marketplace, the memberships of PSC and CSA agreed that it was in their best interests to integrate resources and capabilities into a single, unified entity.

2. What is the mission of the new, merged organization?

The PSC and CSA missions were almost identical and will remain the same: to preserve, improve and expand the federal government market for its members.

3. How does the merger benefit current members and the government services industry at large?

Bringing the industry’s two leading associations together will enable:

4. What will the name of the new association be? Who will be leading it?

The new association will be called the Professional Services Council and Stan Soloway will be its President and Chief Executive Officer. Alan Chvotkin will be the Executive Vice President and Counsel and it is anticipated that Colleen Preston, currently the CSA Sr. Vice President for Public Policy, will round out the staff leadership team.

5. How will the new entity be governed?

For the first year, the Boards of Directors and Executive Committee representatives from each existing entity will be combined into one Board and Executive Committee. Current PSC Chairman Jim O’Neill and current CSA Chairman Mike Shelton, President, EMCOR Government Services, will serve as co-chairs of the board. The Integration Task Force will recommend to the combined membership a long-term governance structure that continues both associations’ tradition of ensuring that all members have a real voice in association operations. This includes fair representation among small, medium and large companies as well as for companies representing different functional market segments.

6. How big is the combined association and what is the membership makeup?

The combined entity will represent more than 330 small, medium, and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including information technology, logistics, operations and maintenance, engineering, facilities management, international development, social and environmental services and more. Together, the association’s members employ hundreds of thousands of people and operate in every state.

7. What are the strengths of the new organization?

Joining forces strengthens the industry’s voice and solidifies the association’s position as the leading advocate and voice of the government services industry. It will also be an advocate led by an extraordinary team with deep experience and unique credibility in the field.

8. When will the merger officially take place?

The merger takes effect on or about January 1, 2008, although related legal and operational steps will take several months to complete.  

9. Who do I contact for more information about the merger?

Members of the media may contact Carrie Lake, PSC Director of Communications at 703-875-8144 or 703-624-7300 or via e-mail lake@pscouncil.org. Members may call Callie Turner, PSC Director of Membership and Member Services, at 703-875-3123 or via e-mail at turner@pscouncil.org.

10. Where will the new association be located?

PSC’s current lease expires on March 31, 2008. PSC was already assessing larger offices to accommodate membership and staff increases, so this is the perfect time to bring the new organization together. Until then, the association headquarters will be at the current PSC offices (2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 750, Arlington, VA 22201, 703-875-8059).

11. How will this change the associations’ relationship with government?

The merger will improve and strengthen our relationship with government by allowing us to capitalize on the current relationships each association brings to the table.

12. Consolidation in the government services industry is a hot topic. How does this merger reflect on the current professional services market?

Trade association member companies constantly assess the value of all activities. Overlaps in membership and mission led some to question if synergies could be achieved. After extensive internal discussions regarding various forms of collaboration, the leadership of both associations chose to merge.

13. How will the PSC and CSA committee and task force structure change?

An Integration Task Force, to be comprised of three members from each organization’s Board of Directors, will recommend an appropriate subject-matter and customer-focused committee structure for the new entity that represents the full range and diversity of the new entity’s membership and mission objectives. The ongoing task force will make long-term recommendations related to association-unique programs (i.e., partnership/alliance and affinity programs, education initiatives, etc.) and recommend whether and how best to integrate each of those programs.

15. How does the merger impact the association’s annual conferences, training sessions, events and meetings?PSC and CSA 2008 conferences, training sessions, and other meetings and events will go on as planned. During the coming year, the Integration Task Force will evaluate what CSA and PSC programs to continue, build upon or change.