Verestar, a domestic and international satellite communications company had been trying to consolidate its operations in New Jersey and New York to reduce operating costs. In early 2001, they acquired another satellite company and decided they did not need to be located in the World Trade Center. Martek had been identifying alternative site selections for them.

On September 11, 2001, Verestar’s office near the top of the World Trade Center was devastated in the blink of an eye. In the midst of extreme chaos following the collapse of the buildings, Verestar had to find a home and stability for the remaining employees. Thousands of people from many companies operating in the World Trade Centers had to be relocated throughout the city. Everyone was in shock, and in many cases work and transportation came to a halt. At 3:00 p.m. that afternoon, Martek received a call from Verestar’s COO indicating their company had been hit in the attack and they didn’t know who was still alive. They desperately needed a temporary home where the employees could regroup and grieve together.

Martek immediately jumped into action, trying to contact the sites they had been researching. Unfortunately, cell phones weren’t working and the local real estate firms that Martek had been working through were completely tied up with their own personal crises. Through the night, Martek hunted landlords down, having to locate their home phones to reach them. Finally, one was found who had a building with furniture and phones in which space was still available. A lease was signed over the weekend and Martek worked around the clock to have the new facility up and running in only three business days by Monday September 17th.

From Bethesda, Maryland, Martek orchestrated an emergency relocation plan to a new office space in lower Mid-Town Manhattan. Verestar had lost 40% of its workforce in the 9-11 tragedy. But within three business days, Verestar employees were provided a place to regroup and grieve together and to commence business operations on September 17, 2001.