Reflections from CSIA 2025 in San Diego

By Lucas Gielen, RiverPark Partners, June 2025

RiverPark Partners had the opportunity to connect with industry peers at the 2025 Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Conference in San Diego. The event underscored several market trends and deeper insights into the integrator community, which we are excited to share.

Market Sentiment

General market sentiment is mixed and cautious heading into summer 2025. While strong corporate earnings, continued buybacks, and AI-driven productivity support valuations, macro and geopolitical risks weigh heavily on outlooks. Key concerns include:

• Persistent inflation and a hawkish Fed

• Ongoing trade tensions and tariff uncertainty

• Volatility risk from global political shifts

  
  

Despite these headwinds, the market has shown resilience—trading just below fair value after recovering from April's tariff-driven dip.

Leadership Updates and Outlook

A major highlight: CSIA announced that long‑time CEO José Vasquez is stepping down, making way for a new leader. This change signals fresh leadership at a pivotal moment for CSIA, and attendees expressed confidence that the incoming CEO will steward the organization forward. We want to thank José for the last ten years of dedication to the CSIA and for giving us, RiverPark Partners, a warm welcome to the community.

Deep-Dive Workshops & Peer Exchange

The hands-on work sessions were a standout. Topics ranged from delivering digital transformation, an economic and labor market update, building to protect your pricing power, to navigating mergers & acquisitions. Additionally, spontaneous trading‑floor conversations between peers yielded practical takeaways on managing client pipelines, integrating emerging technologies like refining AI strategies, and how to continue to scale your business. These candid conversations illustrated the collaborative spirit that defines the CSIA community.

Our Key Takeaway

My key takeaway from San Diego: “A rising tide lifts all ships.” CSIA enables all members to learn from each other and ride favorable tail winds together. RiverPark Partners anticipates that valuation multiples will remain strong and that deal activity will continue. We see that the buyers have a strong appetite for high-quality assets, looking to make synergistic acquisitions. Firms that proactively plan—whether for growth or eventual sale—stand to benefit most in the current environment.

How RiverPark Partners Can Help

If you’d like to assess your firm’s valuation, explore M&A or financing options, or receive exclusive market updates:

• Get a custom valuation analysis tailored to your firm’s size, sector focus, and growth path

• Subscribe to our newsletter for timely market intelligence and trend analysis

• Contact us directly for a market briefing or strategic M&A consultation

  
  

In Conclusion

With José’s transition and new leadership ahead, CSIA is poised for a new chapter of momentum and value creation. CSIA 2025 reaffirmed what we have been seeing in the field: a healthy deal appetite. With buyers getting more sophisticated, we view it as an important part of our job to help educate owners on their exit options. If you would like to explore how RiverPark Partners can help you navigate strategy, valuation, or transaction execution, we are here to help.

About RiverPark Partners:

RiverPark Partners is a New York-based boutique investment bank providing M&A advisory, growth capital solutions, and strategic consulting services to lower middle-market companies. The firm specializes in selling family-owned businesses and has extensive experience in the industrial automation sector, among other industries. With a team of FINRA-licensed investment bankers who bring a unique blend of world-class athletic discipline and financial expertise, RiverPark Partners delivers results-driven solutions that maximize value for its clients.