By Jonathan Bach – Staff Reporter, Portland Business Journal
Mar 5, 2021
Cumming, a real estate project management and cost consultancy, has acquired Portland-based Inici Group.

The transaction was described as a merger in the official announcement, but a person familiar with the deal confirmed it was an acquisition. Terms were not disclosed.

Cumming, which works to help projects stay on schedule and within budget, has tried to broaden its presence within the Pacific Northwest within the past year. A merger with Lake Oswego’s PlanB Consultancy was unveiled last July.

Tightening its ties to the Northwest, Cumming has moved its headquarters to Seattle. It was previously based in Los Angeles.

Inici Group, founded in 1999, has offerings including owner’s representation and project management services. It has worked with the likes of Nike, Portland Community College and Portland General Electric.

“Welcoming Inici Group’s team and expert leadership into the Cumming family is not only in line with our national strategic growth plan, but this merger also represents our second investment in the Pacific Northwest region this year, doubling down on our belief in the region’s long-term potential,” Cumming President Derek Hutchison said in a statement.

Added Karl Schulz of Inici Group: “Aligning ourselves with such a growth-focused firm like Cumming allows Inici Group the ability to provide our clients with additional specialized expertise, services, and resources, while at the same time leveraging Cumming’s new corporate headquarters location to provide exciting career opportunities for our team members.”