Humble Beginnings, Big Vision

Our history started in 1976 when three friends, Principal Civil Engineers Paul Jones, Ray Toney, and Larry Kepple, who worked together at engineering firm CH2M/Hill began looking for an opportunity to work closer to home and focus on their families. They started their own engineering and construction firm named JTK (Jones Toney Kepple) out of a garage.  Soon thereafter, Ray Toney left to start a construction company, which would become local construction firm RTA. Larry Boisclair

e and Everett Hubbard joined JTK as Principal Structural Engineer and Survey Manager, and our small company was renamed as PACE Engineering. Larry Kepple was named the first President and Managing Engineer.

Looking to the Future

Our founding Principal Engineers started PACE with the idea of providing clients with high caliber engineering services, having a Principal Engineer involved directly on all projects providing individualized attention and service. They envisioned a multi-discipline engineering firm specializing in water and wastewater facilities, structural, land development, electrical, mechanical, surveying, and mapping that would serve northern California.

Setting up Shop

We opened our first official office in Downtown Redding at the old Melbell building, which was located at 1650 Oregon Street, west of the Yuba Street Post Office.

Built to Grow: Incorporation

After first forming in 1976 as a partnership doing business as PACE Engineering, we then decided to formally incorporate in late 1977 becoming PACE Engineering, Inc.

More Space… For Now

Our company quickly outgrew the offices at the old Melbell building. In 1979, only a block away at 1730 South Street, we built a new building, which served us for the next 42 years.

Finding a New Spark

In 1996, we expanded our services to include an Electrical Engineering Department. 

Keeping it Civil

In 1998, due to a naming rights conflict, our company name was changed from PACE Engineering, Inc. to PACE Civil, Inc.

Passing the Torch

In 1998, Larry Kepple retired, and Sam Smith took over as President and Managing Engineer.

A Legacy, Carried Forward

In 1999, both Paul Jones and Larry Boisclaire retired.  This completed the transition from our first generation of PACE leadership to the next.

More Room for More Growth

After years of growth under Sam’s leadership, in 2006, we decided to expand our building and doubled its size. 

Reclaiming Our Name

In 2008, the naming rights conflict was resolved, and we took the opportunity to legally change our name back to PACE Engineering, Inc.

Keeping the Torch Burning

Sam Smith retired in 2008, and Paul Reuter was promoted to President and Managing Engineer. 

More moving parts

In 2018, we expanded our services again with the addition of a Mechanical Engineering Department.  

Starting from the Ground Up

In 2020, after years of continued growth, we decided the best path forward for our company was to build a new office building in the Stillwater Business Park. We had the distinction of being the first business to develop in the park.

Built to Last

Construction of our new office building development was completed in fall 2021, and we moved in October 2021.

New Look, Same Foundation

In 2021, we also refreshed our corporate image to include a new logo and color scheme.