Ernst & Young buys Cambria Solutions. Here’s what it means for Sacramento-based employees

Ernst & Young is expanding its Sacramento footprint and has acquired Cambria Solutions, a downtown based consulting firm that focuses on state government clients.

Company officials did not disclose a purchase price for Cambria which employs around 50 people at its Sacramento office on K Street and another 100 at seven other offices across the U.S.

Ernst & Young, one of the big four global accounting firms, with large consulting and technology practices, moved around 100 people based in an office in Roseville to Cambria’s downtown Sacramento office.

The Roseville office handled both Ernst & Young commercial and government clients.

Ernst & Young said it will renovate the first-floor of the 21,000-square-foot three-story building at 731 K St. and open a technology and innovation center. Cambria occupies the second and third floor of the building, near The Golden One Center.

The Ernst & Young commitment to the 731 K St. office, is a small but hopeful sign, for a downtown Sacramento that has lost much of its vibrancy since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Shuttered businesses and half-empty office buildings have become the norm downtown.

Not transitioning to Ernst & Young, however, is Robert Rodriguez, Cambria’s CEO, who founded the company in 2003 and built it into a national firm with offices across the U.S.

Ernst & Young officials declined to explain why Rodriguez will not be part of the operations. Retaining top talent particularly a company founder with specialized expertise, is usually a key feature of corporate technology acquisitions.

“He is definitely the pillar in the Sacramento community and will continue to expand his other business interests in Sacramento,” said Suzanne Vitale, the former president of Cambria Solutions, who joined Ernst & Young as principal, government and public sector.

Rodriguez did not respond to emails.

One of his business interests will be that Rodriguez will be a landlord to Ernst & Young. Another Rodriguez company, Cassadyne Properties, an investment trust, owns the building at 731 K St.

Cassadyne acquired and renovated the building, which stood vacant for 10 years, from the city of Sacramento in 2016. The company is the developer for another project, a planned 50-unit residential complex at F and 20th streets in midtown Sacramento called the 20th Place Project.

Cambria has made its money by concentrating on technology solutions for state governments, mainly on health care and transportation projects. It also does some work for local governments and has a few private clients.

California state records show it was awarded more than $500,000 in contracts in 2020 to automate certain Department of Motor Vehicle functions including motor carrier permit renewals.

Cambria’s seven other offices, outside of Sacramento, are all in state capitals.