Whitchurch Engineering is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. When owners Lisa and Leonard Whitchurch founded the company, they moved their son Brett out of his room to make space for an office. Fast forward a couple decades and Brett is now employed as a leading structural engineer at Whitchurch Engineering, along with more than 30 other employees who work at their two locations in Fortuna and Eureka.

CEO Lisa Whitchurch said that the 25 year anniversary is a time for gratitude. “As with most small businesses we weren’t sure we would be successful. Without the support and trust of the community, we wouldn’t be here. As I reflect on the last 25 years I’m grateful that our growth has enabled us to give back to the community through sponsorships, donating service to local projects, Rotary, team sports, etc. Leonard and I believe it’s our duty to give back to our community and I know that the majority of Humboldt’s small businesses feel the same way. None of us can just say we want Humboldt to be successful and then do nothing. We are all in this together.”

Projects the company has engineered in the Humboldt County area are many and varied but include commercial buildings like Eureka Natural Foods, the Fortuna Fire Station and the recent structural remodel for the Historic Benbow Inn. They’ve also provided services for hundreds of residential projects. And Whitchurch has become internationally recognized and hired for their expertise developed during the decommissioning of the Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant – no small feat for a small Humboldt business. At the same time, they continue to recruit and train graduates from Humboldt State University; providing opportunities for skilled professionals to stay in the area and have enriching careers without having to relocate.

Thank you to Mary Bullwinkel for the write up in the Times Standard.