News

Project Management Academy, which is backed by Leeds Equity Partners, has acquired Minneapolis-based Watermark Learning, a provider of business analysis, project management and process improvement training. No financial terms were disclosed.

PRESS RELEASE

Boston, MA, February 21, 2019) Project Management Academy (“PMA”), a Leeds Equity Partners portfolio company, today announced the strategic acquisition of Watermark Learning. PMA is a leading provider of learning and development solutions for project managers and their broader organizations. As part of its strategic growth initiative, PMA has acquired Watermark Learning, a leader in business analysis, agile, project management, and process improvement training. The team will remain in Minneapolis and become an additional office to complement the existing Boston and West Lafayette offices of PMA.

The CEO of Project Management Academy, Jason Cassidy, commented: “Watermark Learning is known for their strong reputation of providing quality learning experiences. Adding their strength in Business Analysis, Agile, and Process Improvement will help PMA expand its offering to respond to key skills needed in the market. We are excited to have their team join our broader team adding their expertise, strong intellectual capital, and talent to the overall organization.”

Watermark Learning CEO, Elizabeth Larson said, “We are excited about the combination of these businesses both for our customers and our team. In a world in which innovation and technology increasingly drive the need for more projects, require that projects be successful, and require skilled talent to accomplish that—these solutions are more important than ever.” Watermark Learning President Richard Larson said, “We feel both businesses share a common goal of helping professionals succeed in their career and companies succeed in their growth initiatives. The combination of the courses, geographical reach, and technology solutions will provide an even broader and more robust set of solutions to professionals to help them progress in their careers and to companies looking to increase their project success.”

About Project Management Academy
Project Management Academy has been providing learning and development in the project management space for 10+ years with a footprint that delivers in 55+ cities, live virtual courses, and a-synchronous at your own pace learning to 10,000+ professionals and for hundreds of companies each year. PMA seeks to be a trusted guide on the journey each project manager takes to grow in their skills and career and on the journey each company takes to gain the right talent to successfully execute its initiatives in today’s innovative and competitive business environment.

About Leeds Equity Partners:
Leeds Equity Partners, LLC, is a New York-based private equity firm dedicated exclusively to partnering with management teams in the education, training and information services industries (the “Knowledge Industries”). The firm was founded in 1993 and currently manages $1.7 billion of capital across a broad spectrum of companies within the Knowledge Industries. Leeds Equity seeks to leverage its sector-focused expertise and market insights to create long term value for its portfolio companies.

About Watermark Learning
Since 1992, Watermark Learning has delivered training, coaching, and certification preparation in Business Analysis, Agile, Project Management, Business Relationship Management, Business Process Management, and Leadership & Influencing Skills. They help their customers turn the complexity of industry standards into practical application. Their courses and coaching are laser-focused and help ensure enduring results in organizations.