Native Strategies, an engineering and construction management firm founded by Cherokee Nation citizen Steven Hollabaugh, has officially joined the ranks of Consor North America Inc. The acquisition, announced on October 1, marks a strategic turning point for the firm as it looks to scale its impact on critical infrastructure within Indian Country and expand its footprint into the Canadian market.
While financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, the move integrates Native Strategies’ 19-person team into Consor’s massive network of over 1,800 employees. For Hollabaugh, the transition is primarily about overcoming the “growing pains” that had begun to limit the company’s potential.
## Solving the Capacity Crunch Through Strategic Integration
For years, Native Strategies has been a vital partner for tribes in projects ranging from transportation and fiber-optic broadband to complex water and wastewater systems. However, rapid growth brought a difficult reality: the firm was frequently forced to turn down projects simply because it lacked the personnel or specific technical expertise required for large-scale engineering tasks.
“We were growing so quickly, and the need that we’re seeing, the impact we’re able to make within Indian Country… we weren’t able to reach it fast enough,” Hollabaugh noted. By joining Consor—a Miami-based, employee-owned firm backed by New Mountain Capital—Native Strategies gains immediate access to a vast talent pool and advanced engineering resources.
Hollabaugh pointed specifically to water and wastewater treatment as a primary bottleneck for his previous operation. These niche engineering fields require deep technical specialization, a capability that Consor offers in abundance. This influx of technical support allows the team to tackle projects that were previously out of reach, ensuring that tribal infrastructure needs are met with speed and precision.
## Expansion into First Nations Territory
A primary driver behind the acquisition is the opportunity for geographical expansion. Native Strategies had long expressed an ambition to serve First Nations in Canada, but the logistical hurdles of cross-border operations were insurmountable for a smaller boutique firm.
Consor’s existing presence in Canada, combined with its established relationships with local First Nations, provides an immediate bridge for this expansion. Moving forward, the team will lean into this partnership to manage large-scale regional initiatives. Specifically, the Native Strategies group will assist Consor in overseeing the mapping and construction of high-speed fiber optic broadband networks for Canadian First Nations—a crucial component for modernizing connectivity in remote or underserved areas.
## Leveraging Modern Infrastructure Tools and Tech
The partnership arrives at a time when infrastructure projects are increasingly data-heavy and technology-dependent. As the engineering sector shifts toward AI-driven modeling, automated structural assessments, and digitized program delivery, smaller firms often struggle to keep pace with the capital expenditure required to stay competitive.
Consor’s comprehensive suite of advisory, planning, and design services utilizes high-end technological frameworks to ensure project efficiency. By aligning with a larger, tech-forward firm, Native Strategies is better positioned to leverage advanced digital tools in their planning phases. This integration is essential for modern fiber-optic and broadband deployments, which rely heavily on advanced mapping software and predictive analytics to ensure long-term network viability.
Hollabaugh, who will step into the role of Consor’s vice president and market sector director for tribal and First Nations projects, insists that the firm’s core mission remains unchanged. The merger serves as a vehicle to ensure that the “day-to-day” commitment to tribal sovereignty and infrastructure quality continues, albeit with the backing of a much broader institutional reach. For tribal clients, this means a wider array of services and more robust technical support, all while maintaining the cultural dedication that defined the firm’s origin.
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