It’s a clearly surreal experience looking at last year’s record-setting Top 200 Environmental Firms revenue results through the current lens of five months of punishing economic impact to companies and their clients from the still-unfolding COVID-19 pandemic and the much jostled energy sector.

For Top 200 observers and participants, it seems hard to believe that a group that generated $58.9 billion in 2019 global environmental services revenue now has seen and continues to face work delayed or canceled, clients in major financial turmoil and forced shifts in staff numbers and work rules that leave this year’s results in question and some firms having to tap federal assistance to cover payroll and stay in business. But even with the bumps, firms are banking on last year’s foundation and adjustments to the “new abnormal” to gain strength in 2020 and beyond, with many finding ways to manage through the pause and taking advantage of pandemic-driven opportunities.