Pasadena Star-News
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Parsons acquires Alaris telecommunications company
By Kevin Smith
Staff Writer
Parsons Corp., a Pasadena- based engineering and construction firm, has acquired The Alaris Group LLC, a company that specializes in securing and developing sites for wireless telecommunications development.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Alaris will join Parsons Commercial Technology Group Inc., a unit of Parsons Corp.
The acquisition will strengthen Parsons' position in the telecommunications market a sector that currently accounts for 5 percent to 10 percent of Parsons' overall business. "We see this as a growth business,' said Chuck Harrington, who heads Parsons Commercial Technology Group. "As technology and wireless communication migrates from voice to more and more data, the distance between cell towers will have to decrease to cover the increased bandwidth.'
Parsons already installs and designs cell towers, including the electronics that are housed in the base of the structures. But Alaris' expertise in securing and developing land for new towers will be indispensable, according to Harrington.
"Alaris has a great reputation in the wireless market for their ability to successfully complete the site acquisition process for their customers in a time-sensitive manner,' he said.
Telecommunications companies are required to receive approval from the city or county affected when proposing new cell sites. In recent years, cell towers have cropped up in a variety of forms, including free-standing towers, antennas placed atop commercial buildings or on light poles, and cell towers that are disguised to look like trees.
Amy Stanton, founding owner and principal of The Alaris Group, said the acquisition will allow her company to "expand its role in the wireless telecommunications industry, provide greater value and resources to our clients, and growth opportunities for our staff.'
Parsons Corp. is made of up of four business units that address water and infrastructure, commercial technology, infrastructure and technology, and transportation.
Parsons has ranked ranked No. 1 in telecommunications design for the past five years by Engineering News-Record and is a joint venture partner in a wireless network services company, EXI Parsons Telecom LLC.
Kevin Smith can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2701, or by e-mail at kevin.smith@sgvn.com .
| 
