Our History

It all began in the basement of a church in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

auburn church where pride industries was founded

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 over 55 years ago, 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.

production line black and white
1966

Placer Rehabilitation Industries is founded by parents of adult children with disabilities in a church in Auburn, California.

1970

The California DMV awards the organization a landscape maintenance contract, marking an entry into a new line of business.

1980

Increasing demand for its services leads PRIDE Industries to open a new facility at 300 Berry Street in Roseville, CA.

1983

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.

1985

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.

1986

Placer Rehabilitation Industries becomes PRIDE Industries and opens its Grass Valley facility.

AbilityOne Program Certification Logo
1987

PRIDE Industries wins its first AbilityOne (formerly NISH) contract sorting nuts, bolts, and scrap metal for the military at McClellan Air Force Base.

1990

Company wins contract with Intel in Folsom, California. Contract later expands to Intel locations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Massachusetts.

1991

PRIDE Industries merges with IMPAC - North Sacramento facility.

US Air Force Logo
1992

PRIDE Industries wins its first Travis Air Force Base contract for the base commissary. The workforce consists of 49 employees including 33 employees with disabilities. The contract generates $1.6 million in annual revenue and later expands to include Travis AFB food service, painting, landscaping, custodial, passenger screen services, and family housing.

people climbing snowy mountain
1997

Tom Whittaker becomes the first person with a disability to reach summit of Mt. Everest—wearing snowshoes manufactured by PRIDE Industries. The company also earns its first International Organization for Standardization (ISO) registration in 1997.

groundbreaking
1999

Groundbreaking of PRIDE Industries new campus at 10030 Foothills Blvd in Roseville, California.

pride industries headquarters
2000

PRIDE Industries opens its corporate offices in Roseville, California.

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.

Naval Base Ventura County
2001

Key wins: NEC Roseville Custodial services; Travis AFB Military-to-Military Housing referral system; Ventura County Naval Station (Point Magu) Military Family Housing Maintenance.

$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.

San Diego Naval Base sign
2002

Merger with Solano Work Services program (Fairfield) Fairfield facility opened.

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.

2003

Four East Coast Commissaries awarded to PRIDE Industries: Little Creek Commissary Virginia, Norfolk Commissary Virginia; Annapolis Commissary Maryland, and Bolling Commissary Washington D.C.

Old PRIDE Industries Foundation Logo
2005

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.

U.S. Green Building Council logo
2006

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.

Los Angeles Air Force Base sign
2007

PRIDE Industries is awarded the Los Angeles Air Force Base U.S. Space and Missile Command Base Operating Contract and the Fort Bliss Base Operating Contract in El Paso, Texas.

2007

PRIDE Industries wins a federal facilities contract at Fort Bliss, Texas--its first federal contract outside of California.

2008

PRIDE Industries earns its ISO 13485 Medical Device registration/certification.

2008

The People Services Department starts offering Foster Youth Employment Services, providing job training and support to low-income youth aged 16 through 21.

HP Logo
2010

Hewlett Packard names PRIDE Industries its 2010 Global Services Supplier of the Year.

white male with mustache in front of american flag
2012

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.

Crossroads logo
2020

PRIDE Industries launches Inclusive Talent Solutions, a staffing, recruiting, and training division that helps companies build inclusive workforces. Crossroads Diversified Services blends operations with PRIDE Industries.

The Michael Ziegler PRIDE Industries Foundation Logo
2020

CEO Michael Ziegler passes away. In his honor, the foundation is renamed the Michael Ziegler PRIDE Industries Foundation.

Jeff Dern
2020

Jeff Dern is named President and CEO by PRIDE Industries Board of Directors.

Partnerships with Industry PWI logo
2021

PRIDE Industries and Partnerships with Industry (PWI) of San Diego officially combine operations.

Unveiling of plaque dedicated to former CEO
2021

The PRIDE Industries’ Roseville headquarters is dedicated to former CEO Michael Ziegler.