History

Larry J. Pember was born on July 16th, 1949, in Jump River, WI. He co-founded Pember Companies, Inc., where it resides today in 1975. The company was founded on the principles of hard work, quality, commitment, and employee focus. The venture that became Pember Companies, Inc. has roots in the early 1970s, when Menomonie saw great growth and expansion driven by the University of Wisconsin-Stout and new industrial projects, as well as a leap of faith that brought Larry to Menomonie.

In 1971, 3M was planning to move from Minnesota to Menomonie and would use 500 acres as its new home. Ron Pember (Larry’s older brother) was involved in the planning process as a City Engineering Consultant at the time. Menomonie was also growing with the evolution of UW Stout, which was adding approximately 500 students each year. Larry and Linda Pember were working on a development lot in Cable, Wisconsin, when they were encouraged to move to Menomonie. A new business called Pember Construction and Real Estate was started in Menomonie at the corner of 6th Avenue and Main in the old white wood building — 604 Main Street. Larry’s interest was in excavating and concrete work, while Ron worked in home construction. A young realtor named Vince Hague moved from River Falls to Menomonie to join the group. When housing and real estate slowed down in the community, the company was divided into three parts: Pember Excavating, owned by Ron and Larry, Hague Realty, and Pember Construction, Inc. 

Pember Companies, Inc. was started by Larry with three pieces of equipment: an old International truck, a trailer, and a John Deere 450 cat. The International had been used for snow plowing in its younger days, and it only got 9 mpg pulling an empty trailer. It was Larry’s favorite! Hard work was the key factor for Larry and Linda Pember during varying economic times to keep the company alive and growing. Concrete work became an active part of the company. In 1979, the addition of a few former Hansen Construction crew members allowed not only for new employees, but also for more equipment for Pember Excavating, which brought more work and additional capability. The first large project was the landscaping at the new 400,000-square-foot 3M plant. Part of the 500-acre site included an old sod farm along the north side of the interstate. Sod was cut off with an old rented machine that barely worked.