Florida’s CoAdvantage Corp., providing professional employer organization (PEO) solutions to clients nationwide, has acquired Progressive Employer Management Co. (PEMCO), also based in Florida, with the expectation of increasing its regional footprint, growth and strength.

The blending of the two firms will result in over 4,000 clients along with 85,000 employees total, bolstering CoAdvantage’s position in serving small to medium-sized businesses. From its hub in Sarasota, PEMCO occupies a position as one of the nation’s largest private PEOs.

"Merging with CoAdvantage solidifies our leading presence in Florida, and continues our mission of providing high quality outsourced HR solutions," said PEMCO CEO Clint Burgess, who made the transition to CoAdvantage with the transaction and who previously worked with his new colleagues.

"PEMCO has benefited from the stewardship of CEO Clint Burgess, and [Chief Finance Officer] Peter Grabowski, who will each assume integral roles at the combined company as COO and CFO, respectively," CoAdvantage President and CEO Mike Maseda said. "We are excited for Clint and Peter to join our senior team and build on our common vision of providing the marketplace with excellent local service supported by outstanding technology and scale."

CoAdvantage previously acquired Denver's Discovery Outsourcing and New Jersey-based Compensation Solutions.