Culture
REI is a local company with a strong culture built on honesty, respect, reliability, dedication, and fun.
We’re not a buttoned-up, corporate machine – and that’s exactly how we like it. We’re a family-owned company with a team of talented, driven people who care deeply about doing great work.
Our foundation is built on honesty, respect, reliability, and showing up when it matters most. What sets us apart is the energy we bring, the ownership we take, and our belief that great work can happen in an environment that’s both high-performing and enjoyable.
We take our work seriously – but not ourselves. We collaborate, laugh often, and challenge each other to keep improving.
At REI, culture isn’t just a buzzword-it’s a competitive advantage. When you build the right culture, everything else gets stronger: relationships, projects, and a team people are proud to be part of.
Team Culture + 30 Years of Experience =
Strong Customer Relationships
“From my first day at REI the strong core values and company culture stood out. It is a great feeling to be part of a reputable, friendly, and dedicated team working towards shared goals.”
-Cory S.
History
Tom and Bette Nieuwenhuis start Northwest Petroleum Service of Wausau, a petroleum equipment service and factory distributor, and are eventually joined by two of their children, Jay and Jeny. NPS grows rapidly into the 1980’s.
Jay and Tom see a future in the environmental business and launch a sister company. Remedial Engineering, Inc. is established in response to increasing regulations calling for specialized site assessments in petroleum remediation zones. Jeny joins the environmental consulting firm on a part-time basis as she completes her college education.
Tom Radenz, professional land surveyor, helps the company diversify and expand into land surveying and civil engineering.
A new facility is constructed to merge REI and NPS into one convenient location at 4080 North 20th Avenue, Wausau.
REI is named the 2002 Small Business of the Year by the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce and is recognized as a top performing company in North Central Wisconsin for community involvement and support.
The team grows tremendously, adding engineers, professional land surveyors, CADD technicians and other environmental professionals. To reflect the company’s broader capabilities, the name Remedial Engineering is officially changed to REI Engineering, Inc., and a powerful acronym emerges: REI = Responsive. Efficient. Innovative. Jeny becomes president, Tom Radenz joins the ownership team, and a new addition is added to the REI facility.
An annual company-wide retreat is established to celebrate our successes, understand more about the company, engage in team building, and have FUN!
REI Celebrates 20 Years
Leadership Enhancement Action Program (LEAP) is developed to provide training, professional development, and professional growth for the REI team.
The Sunflower project is “planted” – creating the opportunity for the community to pick flowers and pay it forward by doing something kind for another community member. Food donations are collected from visitors to benefit Peyton’s Promise
Owner, Jeny Nieuwenhuis is featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show for her work in transforming an empty lot across the street into a field of sunflowers used to spread joy in our community
REI celebrates 30 years
Ken Lassa is promoted from Senior Consultant and Professional Soil Scientist (P.S.), to Vice President.
REI EDGE was created to provide resources and opportunities to enhance our teams’ personal and professional development.
The Company Annual retreat is rebranded to REI Summit
Vice President, Tom Radenz, semi-retires after 31 years of service at REI and 40 years of service in the Land Surveying/Civil Engineering profession.
Celebrating five years of spreading joy, “Harvest of Sunshine” was launched to give a lasting identity to REI’s beloved sunflower initiative.
Nearly 50 talented and dedicated professionals make up today’s REI team. We continue to provide comprehensive, practical solutions focused on exceeding our clients’ expectations.
REI introduced a new organizational structure, including Senior Leadership and Management Teams, and welcomed four new shareholders to support its collaborative, people-first approach.
Decades of Experience
Since 1991, REI Engineering, Inc. has been committed to consistently exceeding client expectations. As a diversified consulting firm, we provide decades of knowledge and experience to ensure your project is completed on time and within budget.
Our experienced team includes:
