Atomic Object acquires SRT Solutions, plans to expand staff

Atomic Object has acquired SRT Solutions for an undisclosed sum. The Grand Rapids-based software firm plans to not only retain SRT Solutions’ staff in downtown Ann Arbor but is looking to nearly double it over the next year as Atomic Object’s Ann Arbor office.

“You can’t underestimate how valuable a highly functioning, cohesive group of talented developers is right now in software,” says Carl Erickson, president of Atomic Object. He adds, “I expect we will have our first job offer (for the Ann Arbor office) out next week.”

SRT Solutions has become a household name in Ann Arbor’s tech circles since its founding in 1999, doing work for the likes of Domino’s Pizza, General Motors and the University of Michigan. The company’s co-founders, Bill Wagner and Dianne Marsh, will not be staying on and are choosing to pursue new opportunities. Wagner will continue to work from Ann Arbor for Pluralsight. Marsh has taken a job for Netflix. The former partners reached out to Erickson this spring about a potential acquisition because of the striking similarities between their company cultures that focus on innovation and staying ahead of the tech curve.

“This is a really good match because of Bill and Dianne’s employees and business practices,” Erickson says. “All of that lined up pretty well with Atomic Object.”

Erickson started Atomic Object in 2001 and has grown his company’s client list into a diverse collage of brand names, including Whirlpool, Gentex and Amway. Atomic Object has a staff of 45 employees and four summer interns, including about a dozen people in its recently opened downtown Detroit office.

SRT Solutions' downtown Ann Arbor office will now serve as Atomic Object’s Ann Arbor satellite office. The five employees at SRT Solutions will stay on. Erickson is actively recruiting for a number of software programming and design position and expects to hire another five people in Ann Arbor over the next year.

Source: Carl Erickson, president of Atomic Object; Bill Wagner co-founder of SRT Solutions; Dianne Marsh, co-founder of SRT Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

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