What Pence Construction does

Pence Construction (legal entity Pence Contractors, LLC) is a private general contracting firm founded in 1949 as Dale Pence Contracting in Salem, Oregon, and rebranded to its current name in 2016. The firm delivers preconstruction, construction management, and general contracting services across eleven service verticals including K-12 education, healthcare, senior living, multifamily housing, higher education, civic/government, commercial office, hospitality, historic renovation, and industrial construction. Its geographic footprint spans Oregon, Washington, Montana, California, Alaska, and North Dakota, with active hiring signaling additional expansion into Texas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Kansas City. Notable technical specializations include tilt-up concrete construction (100+ projects managed), seismic resilient building (Oregon's first Platinum-Rated USRC structure), and sustainable/LEED construction.

The firm operates a sales-led, relationship-based go-to-market targeting enterprise clients across both public sector (school districts, state agencies) and private developers, earning revenue through project-based contracts awarded via competitive bidding (SmartBid platform) for public work and negotiated arrangements for private clients. Subcontractor engagement is formalized through Compass prequalification. Differentiated internal assets include the Pence Safety App, a custom-built in-house safety application that tracks injury causes and outcomes, the Heads Up Program for data-driven risk observation, and quarterly Commodity Tracking Reports that monitor material pricing and supply conditions. The leadership team includes CEO Paul Schulz, President Dave Hays, COO Ted Jacobsen, VP Healthcare/COO Tim Baugus, and co-owners Elisabeth Kenaston and Shannon Parker.

Customer concentration is diversified across multiple named enterprise anchors including Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, Salem Health, Avamere, Oregon State University, Portland Community College, Salem-Keizer School District, and Oregon Department of Administrative Services. Marketing channels emphasize earned media (Portland Business Journal, Daily Journal of Commerce), content marketing via the company website, and organic social (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram). The firm has received multiple regional recognitions, including DJC Building Diversity Awards (2022, 2023), DJC Women of Vision Award (2021), and Portland Business Journal Top 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies (2017, 2018).

Name

Pence Construction

Legal name

Pence Contractors, LLC

Website

https://pence.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pence Construction is a Pacific Northwest general contractor founded in 1949, delivering preconstruction, project management, and specialized construction—including tilt-up concrete and seismic resilient buildings—across K-12, healthcare, senior living, multifamily, and civic sectors for public and private enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

General Construction Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA), Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

Keywords

• General contracting services
• Tilt-up concrete construction
• Healthcare facility construction
• Senior living construction
• Seismic resilient building

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Contracting Services: Pence serves as the primary general contractor for construction projects, earning revenue through project-based contracts with public and private sector clients. Revenue is generated through a combination of negotiated contracts and competitive bidding on construction projects across various market sectors including K-12 education, healthcare, senior living, multifamily, civic/government, and commercial construction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pence Construction is a Pacific Northwest general contractor providing full preconstruction, construction management, and project delivery services. The firm operates as a relationship-based prime general contractor across market verticals including K-12 education, healthcare, senior living, higher education, multifamily/affordable housing, commercial office, hospitality, civic/government, industrial, and historic renovation. Specialized technical expertise includes tilt-up concrete construction (over 100 projects delivered) and seismic resilient building delivery.

Product overview

Pence Construction is a general contracting firm offering a unified suite of construction services rather than a modular software product. The core offering consists of general contracting and preconstruction services, supplemented by specialized construction verticals covering K-12 education, healthcare, higher education, senior living, multi-family housing, commercial office, hospitality, historic renovation, civic/government, and industrial projects. Projects range from new construction to renovation and adaptive reuse, delivered across Oregon, Washington, Montana, California, Alaska, and North Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Contracting Services Full-service prime general contracting including preconstruction support, construction management, and project delivery for commercial, institutional, and residential construction projects across the Pacific Northwest and surrounding states.
• Preconstruction Services Early-stage construction consultation including value engineering, cost estimation, constructability review, and scheduling to help clients develop feasible project budgets and plans before construction begins.
• K-12 Education Construction General contracting for K-12 educational facilities including schools, gyms, aquatic centers, and career technical education buildings for public and private K-12 school clients.
• Healthcare Construction General contracting for healthcare facilities including hospitals, medical offices, clinics, and dental facilities for healthcare systems and medical operators.
• Higher Education Construction General contracting for colleges and universities including academic buildings, residence halls, and campus operations centers.
• Senior Living Construction General contracting for senior living communities including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities.
• Multi-Family Housing Construction General contracting for multi-family residential buildings including apartments, condominiums, and affordable housing developments.
• Commercial Office Construction General contracting for commercial office buildings, corporate headquarters, and tenant improvement projects.
• Hospitality Construction

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2018: MWESB subcontractor dollar volume increased by 150% and pools by 40%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GBD ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for multiple projects including the Oregon State Treasury Resiliency Building. GBD Architects led design for the first Platinum-Rated USRC structure.
• KPFF EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm partner for structural engineering on complex projects including seismic resilient structures.
• GlumaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering partner for MEP systems on sustainable/resilient building projects including the Treasury Resiliency Building.
• LRS ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for senior living and healthcare projects including Mennonite Village expansion.
• Ankrom MoisancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for multifamily and mixed-use projects including Woodlark Hotel renovation.
• DLR GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and engineering firm partner for various commercial and institutional projects.
• SERAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for various commercial and institutional projects.
• TVA ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partner for various commercial and institutional projects.
• OTAKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and engineering firm partner for various commercial and institutional projects.
• Dynamic Isolation SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeismic isolation technology provider for base isolation systems on resilient building projects including the Treasury Resiliency Building.
• Albertina KerrminorOthersCommunity organization partner supporting people with developmental disabilities.
• American Heart AssociationminorOthersExecutive Committee membership - Tim Baugus serves on Executive Committee.
• ConstructingHopeminorOthersWorkforce development organization supporting construction career pathways.
• Portland Opportunities Industrialization CenterminorOthersBoard membership - Marc Monaghan serves on Board of Directors.
• Stand for ChildrenminorOthersBoard membership - Shannon Parker serves on Board of Directors.
• Oregon Community FoundationminorOthersPartnership for Diversity in Leadership Fund scholarship program for underrepresented students.
• Oregon State University - Construction Education FoundationminorOthersBoard membership - Dave Hays serves on Board of Directors. $10,000 donation to CCE Excellence Fund.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Skanska USA: Major national GC with deep Pacific Northwest presence and a leading healthcare construction practice — Pence's VP Healthcare Tim Baugus and COO Ted Jacobsen both came from Skanska, confirming direct overlap on healthcare, education, and civic work in the PNW.
• Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company: PNW-headquartered GC focused on healthcare, education, and multifamily — the most direct head-to-head competitor for Pence's core verticals in Oregon and Washington. Ted Jacobsen worked here prior to Pence.
• Hoffman Construction: Pacific Northwest-based general contractor operating in commercial, healthcare, and institutional sectors. Senior PM Jennifer Lundy joined Pence from Hoffman, evidencing significant talent and bid overlap in the Oregon market.
• Lease Crutcher Lewis: Large Oregon-based GC with a similar K-12, healthcare, and commercial focus. Pence's previous name "LCG Pence Construction" suggests historical ties to the Lease Crutcher Group, making this the closest legacy peer in the Portland market.
• Walsh Construction: Pacific Northwest GC active in healthcare, education, multifamily, and civic markets in Oregon and Washington — overlapping with Pence's principal service verticals and target clients.
• Andersen Construction: Oregon-headquartered GC with a tilt-up and commercial/industrial tilt that's closely comparable to Pence's tilt-up specialization, particularly in the Willamette Valley market.

Broad incumbents

• Gilbane Building Company: Large national GC with a top-tier healthcare and education practice that competes for the same Kaiser/Salem Health/school district RFPs Pence pursues, particularly as they expand into PNW.
• Turner Construction Company: Largest US commercial GC, with strong K-12 and higher-education verticals and a Pacific Northwest presence that overlaps with Pence's institutional pipeline.
• Mortenson Construction: National GC with healthcare, higher education, and civic practices that increasingly pursue the same public-sector RFP pool Pence targets across the Mountain West and West Coast.

Regional players

• Swinerton: West Coast-headquartered GC with tilt-up, healthcare, and multifamily work that competes for similar projects in California and other PNW-adjacent markets Pence serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pencecontractors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pencecontractors
• Instagraminstagram.com/pence_contractors
• Xx.com/penceconst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pence Construction