CICB acquires East Texas Crane Academy

Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau (CICB) has acquired East Texas Crane Academy (ETCA). The acquisition is another step in the expansion of CICB’s Houston operations, focusing on providing quality safety training and certification programs. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

CICB’s CEO Craig Epperson said the acquisition of East Texas Crane Academy is a strategic move designed to expand CICB’s footprint in Texas and facilitate continued growth.

“Acquiring a high-quality training operation like East Texas Crane Academy accelerates our expansion, strengthens our team, and continues our goal of being the national leader in crane and rigging education,” said Epperson. “The professionals at ETCA are also a great fit for CICB culturally, sharing our deeply held commitment to safety and service.”

The merger bolsters CICB's position as a leader in providing training and testing for those needing their certification from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) in the Gulf Coast Region of the U.S.

“CICB has a reputation of providing only high quality training services to the crane and lifting industry, and our relationship with the management team goes back more than 15 years, which made our decision to combine forces with them, very easy," said Joe Bob Williams, president of East Texas Crane Academy. “We are excited to become part of the great team at CICB, and I am confident that our relationship with CICB will continue to provide our customers with services that are second to none in the industry.”

The transaction marks the second expansion CICB has completed in the last 90 days. In June, CICB became the first and only approved career school by Texas Workforce Commission Division of Career Schools and Colleges, to train individuals as crane operators, riggers, and signal persons in the Houston area. This ambitious initiative is designed to address the demand from the construction, oil & gas, chemical, aerospace and manufacturing industries for professionally trained workers.