The Rethmeier family at the helm of Western Pump, voted the Best Family-Operated Business by San Diego Business Journal in 2005. Pictured (from left): President Ryan, Co-Founders Jan and Dennis (now retired) and Project Manager/Estimator Derek.

Multiple pumps are installed in the fueling portion of the Consolidated Rental Car Center at the San Diego International Airport.

Have you ever wondered how the fuel you put into your gas tank gets to the pump in the first place? Well, if you live in one of five states in the Southwestern United States, it is likely that Western Pump played a part in the cycle.

With accounts and facilities in California, New Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada, the company has been in business since 1948 maintaining and later installing service stations. It is working on expanding to all 17 states in the Western United States over the next decade. Western Pump has even had projects at U.S. military bases in Japan and Hawaii.

Established as primarily a service station maintenance business, the company has been bought and rebranded in recent years as a full-service provider. It offers integrated construction and servicing of vehicles and equipment, and compliance testing for downstream fuel systems post-refinery. Since 1988, when Dennis and Jan Rethmeier purchased the company, it has remained a family-owned and -operated business. Dennis and Jan retired in 2013, paving the way for their sons, Derek and Ryan, to step up to the plate. With Ryan as President, Derek heads up the specialty construction side of the business as a Project Manager/Estimator.

The Secret to Growth

Ryan started with the company in 1993 after withdrawing from San Diego State University where he played golf for the school team and studied business management. Later, attending the University of Phoenix while growing the company, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management.

In 1993, the company had barely two dozen employees and was focusing on service and maintenance contracts for fuel systems. Both sons took positions as laborers, warehouse workers and service technicians. Today, they head a company with over 100 employees in four divisions: construction, sales, fuel system and vehicle equipment servicing.

The company is growing so quickly that 2019 showed 40% growth in number of projects over the previous year.

Ryan says that the secret to their progression is their multipronged approach to the business. “We are a full service equipment contractor. We sell, install and maintain fuel storage and dispensing systems and retail gas station and commercial systems for entities such as delivery or transportation companies.”

Every building that requires a “mission critical system” or generator, such as hospitals, nuclear facilities and fire and police stations, may benefit from a Western Pump specialized system. Ryan adds, “We offer convenience, peace of mind and excellent service by partnering with essential businesses so that they are able to continue working in case of power outages or other emergencies. No other company in Southern California is able to both install and maintain such extensive fuel systems.”

Derek Rethmeier, while currently involved in many aspects of company management, came into the company in 1993 around the same time as his brother. However, as he jokes, “I am the apple that fell a little further from the tree.” He spent his late teens working as a plumber’s helper, starting in Martha’s Vineyard and working his way back home. He joined the company as a ditch digger and general laborer, filling in where needed and gradually moving up in the company.

He finds he likes most aspects of the business. Even though he now runs most projects from his desk, he says, “My understanding of the mechanics of fuel systems, hydraulics, electric and engineering, still allow me to be a good resource to have out in the field.” He still does site inspections, handles technical problems and tries to be at the right place at right time. “Whatever it takes to keep things going” is his motto.

Big Projects
 from Customers'
 Dreams

In recent years, Western Pump has become involved in many large projects. Finished in 2016, the San Diego International Airport Consolidated Rental Car Center is one project of which Western Pump is justifiably proud. This multilevel fuel system at the consolidated rental car (ConRAC) facility was the first of its kind in the County of San Diego and most of the United States. ConRAC is a system that is being implemented increasingly throughout the United States. Instead of dozens of different car rental companies having satellite offices and parking lots outside the airport, one all-inclusive location is provided. Acting almost like another terminal, a single tram takes customers to one location with multiple vendors. One fuel station dispenses multiple types of fuel; gasoline, diesel, even electric charging could be provided in the future.

The ConRAC concept is designed to lower the carbon footprint by lessening traffic congestion and fuel emissions that currently exist in rental car company setups. This project constituted unfamiliar territory for many key county agencies, including the County of San Diego’s Department of Environmental Health’s Hazardous Materials Division. Western Pump worked with county representatives to sequence the required inspections and ensure the project stayed on track.

Another project Western Pump is proud of is the Sycuan Market near El Cajon, California. Although involved in design assistance for a year prior, the structure was built over an eight-month period. This facility was a collaborative design-build project offering high-end equipment and an environmentally sensitive approach. The Sycuan Band is part of the Kumeyaay Tribe of Southern California. Because the facility is located on Tribal Land, Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation required that all aspects of the facility were designed and built to comply with California’s most stringent regulations, including federal, state and local building, fire and air quality. They also needed to comply with Native American Environmental Protection Coalition (NAEPC) guidelines. In 1994, NAEPC was founded in Southern California to share common concerns and bring a team effort to the protection, preservation and restoration of the environment as they affect tribal lands.

From coffee table talks with the Sycuan leadership about their dream for a central market and truck stop, Ryan Shadburn was instrumental in defining a workable budget, shopping for the right equipment and applying for permits. Ryan (Shadburn) has been with Western Pump for 15 years and says his job as Business Developer is to keep the project pipeline full. He finds business by taking care of his customer base, identifying their needs or wants, and following each project to completion. What he says he likes about his job: “Every day has a new challenge to overcome.”

High Standards, Quality Work

The Western Pump workforce is expected to uphold the company’s core values: Passion for the job, pride in their work and caring about each other. In addition, the culture emphasizes teamwork with a unified goal. As President, Ryan says, “Innovation, creativity and relentlessly working to provide value to the customer is what keeps the company moving forward. I love being able to reward team members, like service technicians who exceed set goals for first time fix ratios. I know by doing that they are creating a happy and loyal customer.”

As a project manager, Derek has become licensed in the many states in which they wish to expand their business. It is not just a matter of paying for a license. In states which do not have reciprocity with California, he has to study long and hard to pass the complex exams regarding the laws and regulations of each state’s building statutes.

Working with Others Benefits Both

Every month, Ryan meets with the BEST CEO group, a select CEO peer group comprised of San Diego County CEOs, company presidents and business owners. Although they are from non-competing companies, together they discuss problems or processes that aren’t working in their businesses and how to improve.

Ryan says of his mentor Joe Phillips and the group, “As a member for almost eight years, I have become a better, more effective leader, improved my decision-making ability and achieved better results in all aspects of my business. We all share one common goal—to become the very best at what we do. Chairman Joe Phillips is great. His many years of experience running companies, his strong set of core values and his desire to help others become successful makes Joe a perfect leader.”

In the past, the group has discussed performance reviews, personnel issues and boosting sales, among many other topics. Recently, it has been helpful with addressing COVID-19 and the multitude of regulations and chaos the virus has created with different work situations. For Western Pump, already mostly paperless and tech savvy, the company was able to adapt with many employees working from home. With less people driving, there was less fuel usage and therefore less maintenance needed on the pump and transport vehicles. However, Ryan says construction and new installs are doing exceptionally well and enhanced safe work practices are being followed.

Lane McDonald heads the new sales/marketing department for Western Pump in Phoenix, Arizona. He sees the firm benefiting from its relationship with BEST. “When I joined the company, there was a simple value statement of Quality, Trust and Integrity in place,” he says. “About a year ago, we had a ‘culture sit in.’ With the help of Joe Phillips and the BEST CEO group, a number of the employees fine-tuned the mission into the statement we follow today. I like being a part of developing company values and goals.”

Lane and Ryan (Shadburn) have been attending The Blue Book networking events as often as they can. They find it useful to meet subcontractors and other general contractors in an open environment. The Blue Book ProView is also used often as a tool when looking for subcontractors in new locations.

Looking to the Future

Both Derek and Ryan Rethmeier are looking forward to many years of growth for the company. They are expanding into new states with new technology. Ryan (Shadburn), head of business development says, “While E-vehicles are becoming more popular in California, they are not in the rest of the country. They are here to stay, but won’t affect combustion engine use for decades; not until there is proper infrastructure and charging stations that are readily available and cost effective.”

The Rethmeier brothers are also looking forward to the day their children are able to join the company and grow into leadership roles. Today, their kids are learning the ropes through summer jobs in the warehouse or office. In years to come, they will be the thought leaders to take the company to a new and ever- changing future.