From paper mills to NASA facilities, Pacific Tech Construction is building America’s future
Established in 1995 in Southwest Washington, Pacific Tech Construction (Pacific Tech) has emerged as a premier contractor serving both public and private sectors across the US. Over the years, the company has expanded its expertise to include general construction, roofing, and industrial contracting. Backed by a strong portfolio of successful projects, Pacific Tech has successfully delivered projects for federal, state, and local agencies, as well as Fortune 500 companies and clients in the commercial, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. Slate Miller, Vice President of Business Development, provides an overview of the company’s evolution through the years.
“Pacific Tech was originally founded by Joe Lane and Cal Miller in Kelso, Washington, as a roofing and small commercial construction company, primarily focusing
on tenant improvements and residential roofing. About a year later, they entered the federal 8(a) program and experienced substantial growth. Through their participation in the 8(a) program over nine years, they expanded their capabilities and began undertaking projects in various regions, including the Southeast, Southwest, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. After nine years, when the company graduated, our business model evolved to focus on mentoring other 8(a) companies through the Mentor-Protégé Program. This initiative has been a passion for both Joe and Cal after their graduation, as they enjoy helping other businesses and giving back to the program that provided them so much support. Today, Pacific Tech generates over $100 million in annual sales through a diverse range of projects all over the country, including roofing, large historical renovations, seismic upgrades, and everything in between. In essence, if there is a project that the federal government or military requires, we pursue it and deliver it successfully,” he opens.
Growth trajectory
Following on from that, Slate clarifies the nature of the projects Pacific Tech undertakes and the sectors the company serves. “We definitely specialize in the federal market as well as the industrial sector, particularly in the pulp and paper industry, which is prominent in the Pacific Northwest due to the abundance of paper mills. Currently, we are working on a project at a paper mill in Arkansas, marking the expansion of this division of the business, which was previously limited to the Pacific Northwest. One of our goals right now is to grow that aspect of the company, so it is exciting to embark on our first job in a different region of the country. In addition, we also handle private commercial projects and work with city, state, and municipal entities. However, I would say that the bulk of our work primarily comes from the federal and industrial sectors,” he says.
Alongside Slate, Dan Faber, Vice President of Operations, is set to purchase Pacific Tech from its current owners. Dan sheds light on their main motivations behind this buyout. “Slate and I have grown up with Pacific Tech, and this is a great opportunity for us to carry on the legacy that Cal and Joe built. It is an opportunity that we simply could not pass up, as we are truly passionate about Pacific Tech and the growth we have been part of, and we just want to continue that momentum. As 
we move forward with our ownership, our vision and priorities for the company include seeing it grow in size. For all of its 30 years, Pacific Tech has operated as a small business, and our revenue projections are poised to naturally push us out of that category. In order to take the company to the next level, we plan to pursue larger, likely more complex projects, as well as explore opportunities in different regions of the US.”
Prioritizing people
After three decades in operation, Pacific Tech is thriving and expanding continuously. As the company celebrates its 30th anniversary, Dan reflects on the key factors contributing to its longevity and success. “I believe that we have a fantastic team here at Pacific Tech because we are dedicated to cultivating a family environment. For those who have been with us for years, it genuinely feels like they are part of the Pacific Tech family. Our culture reflects this, as our people are proud to work with us and enthusiastic about coming to work and being a part of what we do. As we grow, we are committed to maintaining this culture. While we recognize that the larger we become, the more challenging it will be to preserve this culture, it’s a commitment we take very seriously.”
Whilst on this topic, Slate adds: “Our 30th anniversary and the continuation of this culture are a testament to Cal and Joe and how they have led the company over the past three decades. Indeed, they have always taken good care of their employees and emphasized to Dan and me how crucial our team is to the success of the company. We fully understand that we would be nothing without them. Therefore, we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome and no one comes to work afraid of making mistakes. To support this, we maintain an open-door policy that encourages communication among all team members, and we always collaborate to address any problem that arises. Our goal is to promote a true team atmosphere, which has proven effective for 30 years, and it is something we do not want to change. We aim to sustain that environment as we grow, perhaps on a larger scale, while doing our best to keep the same welcoming environment in the workplace.”
Rigorous quality control
Presently, Pacific Tech is engaged in a major project at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Dan tells us more about this endeavor. “This project involves the replacement of the roof deck in two phases at the facility where NASA assembles all the rockets before they are launched into space. It is extremely important for our company and its growth, as it represents our largest project to date. While it involves a fairly typical roof replacement, the size and scope of the project make it quite complicated. Essentially, the project consists of removing the existing roof and deck, replacing any rotten purlins, and installing a new steel deck, followed by a modified bitumen roofing system. Finally, we will apply a coating over the new systems. We are working above and around Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and other space contractors, so it is vital that we execute everything correctly to ensure that nothing falls into the building. This necessitates rigorous quality control and oversight,” he concludes.