Industry Groups To Merge Two leading associations representing government contractors have announced plans to merge next year. Members of the Professional Services Council and the Contract Services Association of America approved the merger Dec. 12. Their combined membership totals more than 330 companies, including small, medium and large businesses. The new organization will be called the Professional Services Council. The Council’s current president, Stan Soloway, will remain as president and CEO. PSC Senior Vice President Alan Chvotkin will be the executive vice president and counsel of the merged organization. The groups said they expect Colleen Preston, CSA senior vice president for public policy, to round out the leadership team. “In light of the common missions and objectives of the two organizations, continued industry consolidation, and the growing policy and other challenges associated with the federal government marketplace, the PSC and CSA memberships agree that it is in our collective best interest to combine our resources and capabilities into a single, unified entity,” said Jim O’Neill, chairman of PSC’s board and president of Northrop Grumman Information Technology. O’Neill and current CSA Chairman Mike Shelton will serve as co-chairs of the board until it is restructured. Shelton is president of EMCOR Government Services. According to the announcement, the merger will be phased in over the next few months. Members will continue to pay their current dues until a new dues structure is established.