York, Pa.-based IPA 200 firm Stambaugh Ness (FY25 net revenue of $39.4 million) and Zweig Group plan to merge and form SNZweig, an integrated professional services and advisory platform focused on the architecture, engineering and construction industry. The transaction is expected to close later this fall.
As part of the combination, private equity firm Aphias Capital is making a majority growth investment in SNZweig Advisors. The firm will operate under an alternative practice structure, with SNZweig Advisors providing advisory, tax, technology and consulting services while Stambaugh Ness remains an independent CPA firm providing audit and attest services.
The transaction builds on a strategic partnership the firms began in March 2025. Earlier this year, Stambaugh Ness and Zweig Group also combined their ownership transition and M&A practices.
“This is a defining moment for the AEC industry,” said Steven L. Hake, CEO of SNZweig. “SNZweig represents more than the combination of two organizations; it represents a new opportunity for the industry.”
SNZweig plans to expand its national footprint, add service lines and pursue additional acquisitions serving the AEC market.
“We’ve created a platform unlike anything else in the AEC market — one that puts financial, strategic, technology and transaction expertise under a single roof,” said Chad Clinehens, president of SNZweig. “That’s what lets us deliver on our mission of elevating the industry and helping firms excel in an increasingly complex future.”
