Our History
It all began in the basement of a church in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
In 1966, a group of parents came together to discuss how to create opportunities for their adult children with disabilities. These parents—true pioneers of the modern inclusivity movement—came up with a solution that enabled their children to experience the dignity, independence, and sense of purpose that comes with employment. That solution was PRIDE Industries.
From our small beginnings, PRIDE Industries has grown to become the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities and those with other barriers to employment, including veterans and former foster youth. We employ individuals in diverse fields, including manufacturing and logistics and facilities management – all made possible by a wide spectrum of support services.
As PRIDE Industries has grown, so has the reach of its mission. We now share our unique expertise with companies of all sizes to help them achieve their diversity and inclusion goals – expanding our founders’ dream from a local effort into a service that benefits thousands of people across the country every year.
Starting a Movement
The world was a very different place in 1966 when PRIDE Industries got its start as Placer Rehabilitation Industries. In those early days, our employees made wind chimes, ceramics, and other craft products.
Placer Rehabilitation Industries is founded by parents of adult children with disabilities in a church in Auburn, California.
The California DMV awards the organization a landscape maintenance contract, marking an entry into a new line of business.
Increasing demand for its services leads PRIDE Industries to open a new facility at 300 Berry Street in Roseville, CA.
Michael Ziegler joins the company. Mike’s business background and force of personality would turn a small nonprofit into the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities. Through Mike’s visionary leadership, PRIDE Industries' business service offerings began to expand, creating more job opportunities in various fields.
The Manufacturing and Logistics department wins a contract sorting and recycling products for Hewlett-Packard, Inc – starting a partnership of over 35 years with a global brand and expanding PRIDE Industries' capabilities.
Placer Rehabilitation Industries becomes PRIDE Industries and opens its Grass Valley facility.
PRIDE Industries wins its first AbilityOne (formerly NISH) contract sorting nuts, bolts, and scrap metal for the military at McClellan Air Force Base.
Company wins contract with Intel in Folsom, California. Contract later expands to Intel locations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Massachusetts.
PRIDE Industries merges with IMPAC - North Sacramento facility.
Furthering our Partnerships to
Extend Opportunities
By constructing its new Roseville headquarters, PRIDE Industries demonstrated its commitment to long-term growth and national expansion. At the same time, our focus expanded to serve those with barriers to employment, including former foster youth and veterans.
$1 million appropriations bill sponsored by Rep. John Doolittle for PRIDE Industries and the Melwood Training Center of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to provide training for other organizations that create jobs for people with disabilities.
Merger with OFHI (Opportunities for the Handicapped aka Opportunities Unlimited) North in Sacramento.
PRIDE Industries selected to load provisions onto U.S. Navy ships for the FOSSAC (Fitting Out and Supply) division at Naval Base San Diego.
Four East Coast Commissaries awarded to PRIDE Industries: Little Creek Commissary Virginia, Norfolk Commissary Virginia; Annapolis Commissary Maryland, and Bolling Commissary Washington D.C.
The PRIDE Industries Foundation is created for fundraising to support internships, job coaching, on-the-job training, transportation, and assistive technologies for people with disabilities.
VSP Vision selects PRIDE Industries’ custodial services for its Rancho Cordova, Calif. headquarters. PRIDE’s CIMS-GB with Honors certification helps VSP achieve LEED Platinum certification. The contract expands to 12 buildings including office buildings, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities in Ohio and California.
PRIDE Industries wins a federal facilities contract at Fort Bliss, Texas--its first federal contract outside of California.
PRIDE Industries earns its ISO 13485 Medical Device registration/certification.
The People Services Department starts offering Foster Youth Employment Services, providing job training and support to low-income youth aged 16 through 21.
Hewlett Packard names PRIDE Industries its 2010 Global Services Supplier of the Year.
PRIDE Industries signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Veterans Administration, recognizing our nationwide network of support and outreach programs for employing veterans.
Looking Forward
PRIDE Industries’ vision is an inclusive world where people of all abilities have equal access to achieve their employment goals. Today, as company leaders realize the advantages of a diverse and inclusive workforce, PRIDE Industries is happy to lead by example and provide training on our inclusive model to realize that vision.
Jeff Dern is named President and CEO by PRIDE Industries Board of Directors.
PRIDE Industries and Partnerships with Industry (PWI) of San Diego officially combine operations.
The Youth Employment Services (YES!) Program supports opportunity youth in Sacramento and Placer counties, enabling them to gain the skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers and to live independently. PRIDE Industries runs the program out of its Career Hub in Citrus Heights, California.
PRIDE Industries hosts its 1st annual I AM ABLE Disability Job Fair—the only job fair designed by people with disabilities for people with disabilities connects thousands of job seekers with dozens of employers eager to tap into this stellar workforce.
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