CLS in Oklahoma?

**RD_Wrangler** · February 17th, 2009, 01:03 PM

I just saw a classified for CLS hiring locators in Oklahoma City and Tulsa here in OK...

I've been out of the loop for awhile. Is CLS, SM&P, and USIC all one company now? I had heard they were merging in some fashion? SM&P carries almost all the major contracts in this state, just curious as to why CLS would be advertising for locators here as well if that's the case...?

Any info would be appreciated.

**Hurricane9** · February 17th, 2009, 03:05 PM

CLS and SMP were brought under one roof, USIC, in 2008. Though we have the same parent corporation now, we are still keeping two different names, probably because the two names are well known.

Maybe because they are hiring for a contract they already have? That would be my guess.

**AULupstate** · February 17th, 2009, 03:05 PM

USIC does own both but from what I can gather are keeping the 'brand' names seperate. As I understood it there were only a couple of areas in the country where the merger was going to create overlapping market areas for both CLS and SM&P. Illinois was the biggest.

At some point USIC is supposed to become one big happy family with the old logo's gone and replaced with the new ones. Personally I doubt it will ever happen and more than likely after USIC has made some 'fast' cash both CLS and SM&P will be for sale yet again. That is just my opinion that has been formulated by reading alot of what is going on with the company as a whole.

**RD_Wrangler** · February 17th, 2009, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Hurricane9

CLS and SMP were brought under one roof, USIC, in 2008. Though we have the same parent corporation now, we are still keeping two different names, probably because the two names are well known.

Maybe because they are hiring for a contract they already have? That would be my guess.

I can't imagine that to be the case. SM&P has the contracts on all 4 of the primary phone companies in the entire state, 1 of the only 2 electrical companies (the other has been handled by the same company for years and I DOUBT it's likely to change), and the primary gas company (as well as most of the minor ones).

I'd never heard of CLS in this state before...particularly not in the OKC metro areas...odd..

**yahoo** · February 17th, 2009, 07:16 PM

Kohlberg and company acquired these two companies and brought them together as one company........ USIC is the old CLS and SM&P together......,,,,,,

**sprayandpray** · February 17th, 2009, 08:35 PM

RD's right - SM&P has been in Oklahomo for years - someone might have seen a CLS truck up there - we got a bunch from Fl and they aren't re-painting /re-labeling them at this time.

**Wingfoot** · February 22nd, 2009, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by AULupstate

At some point USIC is supposed to become one big happy family with the old logo's gone and replaced with the new ones. Personally I doubt it will ever happen and more than likely after USIC has made some 'fast' cash both CLS and SM&P will be for sale yet again. That is just my opinion that has been formulated by reading a lot of what is going on with the company as a whole.

A very interesting observation upstate...... Hmmmmm..... Mike Stayton a Corporate Raider? Due to the midget-minded, rat-bastard snitches that always lurk in the background here on theVine, this would be another hot topic that is political Dy-No-Mite that smart USIC 'Viners need to shy away from.

-------------------------------------------

**AULupstate** · February 22nd, 2009, 02:53 PM

Good point wing. Don't get yourselfs into trouble because of an observational statement I have made. It would be best to stay quiet for your jobs sake.

That's just MY theory and I don't have ANYTHING to lose by saying it.

**RD_Wrangler** · February 22nd, 2009, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by sprayandpray

RD's right - SM&P has been in Oklahomo for years - someone might have seen a CLS truck up there - we got a bunch from Fl and they aren't re-painting /re-labeling them at this time.

No, I've seen the ads for locators for CLS in the OKC area. THAT'S what confused me. Why would they hire locators in competition with SM&P? Doesn't make sense.

**OVUS1** · February 22nd, 2009, 08:36 PM

Most all the merged companies operate their units as individuals (Utiliquest/STS/Locating, Inc), Consolidated operates as CUS/ProMark/DeTech).

I would think USIC is doing the same thing until they get everything at the corporate level integrated or maybe they will keep operating under the different brand names as they already have good commercial recognition.

OneVision is Dominion Cable Corp., John Cook Company, Kudzu Technologies, and Middleton & Associates, but operates all units under the OneVision name.