The investment expands a multi-year partnership between NEST and Saint Joseph’s that has included a hands-on AI and machine learning initiative involving faculty and students.

“The first phase of our partnership with Saint Joseph’s over the last year has demonstrated the tremendous potential of bringing together talented students, faculty, and industry leaders to solve real-world challenges,” said Rob Almond Jr., CEO of NEST and a 2024 inductee into Saint Joseph’s University’s Erivan K. Haub School of Business Hall of Fame. “The Hawk’s NEST will allow students and researchers to work alongside our team to develop better tools, stronger insights, and more informed solutions for our clients, employees, and service providers.”

The Hawk’s NEST is expected to analyze more than 1 billion data points in the first year and generate practical insights and tools that help NEST clients, employees, and service providers improve operational performance, increase efficiency, and make better-informed decisions. For example, the work is expected to produce faster, more consistent service estimates based on geography, trade, and historical data.

As NEST continues to expand its workforce and capabilities across North America, the company is investing in technologies that help clients improve facilities operations while enabling employees and skilled trades partners to work more efficiently and deliver greater value.

“This initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration between higher education and industry,” said Joseph A. DiAngelo Jr., dean of Haub School of Business. “By bringing together students, faculty, and business leaders to address emerging challenges through artificial intelligence and analytics, The Hawk’s NEST will create valuable opportunities for learning, innovation, and workforce development while helping shape the future of facilities management and the skilled trades.”

The Hawk’s NEST builds upon Saint Joseph’s University’s commitment to experiential learning and industry engagement. Earlier this year, NEST served as the title partner of the 2026 Saint Joseph’s University High School Analytics Competition and introduced the NEST AI Award, recognizing excellence in AI-related analysis and innovation among participating students.

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