REI Engineering History: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Surveying.

"The whole organization has been very attentive to our needs and have made us feel like we are their top priority. Professional, on time, and on budget. I would highly recommend REI."
- Matthew Hattenhauer, MD

REI began in Wausau, throughout Wisconsin in 1991 when the father and son team of Tom and Jay Nieuwenhuis saw a future in the environmental business.

Their keen foresight developed through operating Northwest Petroleum Service, Inc. (NPS), a successful petroleum service business that Tom and his wife, Bette, started out of their house in 1972.

While NPS was focused on installing, servicing and removing petroleum equipment, late 20th century environmental movements were underway.

Wisconsin's Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Act (PECFA) of the 1980's prompted the removal and upgrade of petroleum underground storage tanks. As NPS was called on to remove the tanks, site assessments performed by environmental professionals were also required. Tom and Jay responded to the growing industry need with Remedial Engineering, Inc. While it started with soil and groundwater remediation projects for the petroleum industry, its reach quickly expanded.

In 1992, Tom Radenz joined Remedial Engineering to launch the company's land surveying division, and later helped integrate civil engineering into the business.

By 1993, Remedial Engineering and NPS moved to their current location at 4080 North 20th Avenue. Remedial Engineering grew tremendously by adding an extensive group of professionals consisting of Engineers, Registered Land Surveyors, Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) Technicians, Engineering Technicians and additional Environmental Professionals.

Now, with services beyond environmental, the name Remedial Engineering, Inc. changed to REI Engineering, Inc. The company name gained further emphasis by taking on a powerful acronym: REI - Responsive. Efficient. Innovative.

Affirming their mounting position in the marketplace, the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce named REI the 2002 Small Business of the Year.

Today, REI employs 40 professionals and provides services to the Midwest.

"In less than two decades, REI grew from a two-man operation to a team of 40 other professionals who want nothing more than to continue to exceed our client's expectations. We're a driven team... we know how to look out for our client's best interests," says REI President Jeny Gustafson, who, like her brother Jay, grew up in an entrepreneurial family and has come to know every fiber of REI Engineering.