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Tony Wesche, Joe McElroy, and Troy Colvin accepted the National Recognition Award at the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.

Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. (Pioneer) proudly announces our recent acceptance of the National Recognition Award at the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) for our work on the Lower East Fork Ninemile (EFNM) Creek and Dayrock Complex Project, a milestone in the environmental remediation efforts within the Bunker Hill Superfund Site.

This multi-year project, completed in partnership with the Coeur d'Alene Trust, addressed severe contamination from historic silver, lead, and zinc mining operations that impacted water quality and aquatic life in the Ninemile Creek Basin. The cleanup effort removed over 381,000 cubic yards of mine waste, reconstructed nearly 1.7 miles of stream channels, and revegetated 29 acres of riparian and upland habitat.

The Project’s success delivers significant benefits by taking steps to improve water quality; reducing health and ecosystem risks; boosting the economy with over 80% local hires; and promoting sustainability through reuse of native materials, reduction of waste, and preservation of historic structures. “This Project represents a major milestone in the remediation of the Ninemile Creek Basin,” said Kyle Richards, Coeur d’Alene Trust, Senior Program Manager. “Through collaboration, innovation, and commitment, we’ve transformed a significant environmental challenge into a success story for the community and the environment.”

The Lower EFNM Creek and Dayrock Complex Project was completed ahead of schedule in November 2024 and was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in September 2025. Ongoing monitoring initially confirms the remedy’s effectiveness, paving the way for long-term ecological recovery.

Pioneer played a pivotal role in the successful completion of the Lower EFNM Creek and Dayrock Complex Project, delivering comprehensive services from remedial design through construction, administration, and management. This Project was technically challenging due to steep terrain, shallow groundwater, and saturated tailings “slimes.” These conditions demanded innovative engineering solutions and detailed planning to ensure environmental compliance and safety.

Due to the site’s proximity to Wallace, Idaho, Pioneer and the Coeur d’Alene Trust emphasized transparent communication and strict compliance with environmental and safety standards. This collaborative approach included coordination with federal and state agencies, local governments, and community members, enabling smooth execution despite significant logistical challenges.

“There were many issues beyond the technical challenges,” said Joe McElroy, Project Manager at Pioneer. “Strong leadership from the Coeur d’Alene Trust and the planning and commitment of our construction partner, DG&S Company, were key to the Project’s success.”

“Achieving such a significant remediation milestone in the Ninemile Creek Basin is truly noteworthy,” stated Tim Ranf, Pioneer President and CEO. “We appreciate the confidence the Coeur d’Alene Trust placed in us to tackle the challenges at this site, and we are proud of the outstanding work our team delivered.”

Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. is excited to announce that the installation of solar panels has been completed at our Helena office and materials testing laboratory. We are deeply grateful for the USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program, which awarded us a 50% Matching Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant that helped us fund and complete this project. We would also like to thank the Butte Local Development Corporation and Jack Isbell with Solar Montana, who supplied and installed the system.

Through maximizing the south-facing roof slopes, this 60.9-Kilowatt system of 145 solar panels will generate more than 50% of the energy to power our Helena office and materials testing laboratory, helping Pioneer to be more sustainable. “We at Pioneer are very excited to be integrating solar panel technology at our Helena office and testing laboratory facility, one more example of fulfilling our vision of ‘forging a bright and sustainable future together,’” said Pioneer CEO, Tim Ranf.

USDA’s Rural Development’s Montana State Director, Kathleen Williams, commented on the project as well: “We love seeing the enthusiasm and creativity our REAP recipients put toward these projects that both save them money and help address climate change.”

We’re thrilled about the opportunity to integrate sustainable practices into our operations and workplaces, allowing us to better serve our communities and preserve our environment for future generations."

Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. is proud to have completed the Boulder River Streambank Restoration project near Big Timber, Montana. Severe erosion from high water events, including the historic June 2022 flood, caused significant damage just upstream of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Big Timber Loop Road bridge. This erosion threatened the bridge's abutment, which provides critical access to the east side of Big Timber.

Working under an emergency permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, our team restored approximately 300 linear feet of the riverbank using excess alluvium material from the opposite side of the bank. To further stabilize the area, we installed tree trunks with exposed root wads to help deflect the flow of the river and prevent future erosion.

This project was co-managed by Nick McDowell and Chad Raisland with Cedar Richards providing additional engineering and CADD support. A special thank you to the Sweet Grass Conservation District and Sweet Grass County for your continued work to keep the community safe and to Olympus Technical Services for your outstanding construction work on the project.

We are proud to support the long-term health and safety of our Montana communities through critical projects like this one. Thank you to everyone involved.

Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. , a leader in providing cutting-edge engineering solutions, is excited to announce a significant milestone in its journey of growth and innovation. In a bold step towards the future, the company has unveiled a new logo and vision statement that reflect its commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in an ever-changing world.

The redesigned logo represents a leap forward, showcasing Pioneer's innovative spirit and forward momentum. With a fresh, modern design that captures the essence of the company - resilient, dynamic, and forward-thinking - the new logo pays homage to Pioneer's roots while adapting for the future. It symbolizes the company's growth, innovation, and its unwavering commitment to leading clients and communities towards a brighter future.

"Take a closer look, and you'll notice the essence of Pioneer - resilient, dynamic, and forward-thinking - encapsulated in a modern design. While honoring our genesis, this new design is a symbol of our evolving journey, innovative mindset, commitment to excellence, and a promise to lead our clients and communities into the future with the same integrity, precision, and pioneering spirit that has been our guiding star since our founding," said Tim Ranf, President and CEO at Pioneer.

In addition to the logo redesign, Pioneer is proud to introduce its new vision statement: "Forging a bright and sustainable future together." This statement not only reflects the company's aspirations and values but also its dedication to collaboration, sustainability, and the creation of lasting value for all stakeholders.

As Pioneer continues to adapt and thrive in a dynamic global landscape, this rebranding marks a significant milestone in the company's journey. It reinforces the company's dedication to being at the forefront of industry innovation and to serving its clients with cutting-edge solutions that meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Pioneer Technical Services, Inc., an environmental remediation and restoration company, selected Tim Ranf as its new CEO starting in 2023.

Mr. Ranf, a professional engineer and former vice-president of Pioneer, has over 27 years of experience with the company as an environmental and civil engineer and holds a M.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Montana State University. During his time with Pioneer, he has served many roles including project manager on numerous environmental remediation projects, branch manager, and director of business development.

Pioneer was founded in 1991 and is a 100% employee-owned company that is headquartered in Butte, with offices in Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Kellogg, ID, and Denver, CO. The company founders envisioned a company that “exists and is operated for the long-term benefit and enjoyment of all employees.” That is a culture that Mr. Ranf wants to continue. “Pioneer will continue to be an employee- and community-centered company,” he says, “My job as CEO is to protect our mission and values and ensure that we stay aligned with them as we grow and adapt to an ever-changing world.”

Currently, Pioneer is building new offices and laboratories in Helena and Butte in an expansion that will enable them to serve their clients more efficiently. Mr. Ranf’s vision for the company includes continuing this growth in order “to provide opportunities for our employees and solve problems for our customers.” He says, “Thanks to the extraordinary group of people who work here, our future looks brighter than ever. I believe we can do even greater things for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.”

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Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. is excited to announce plans to expand our Butte, Montana Headquarters.  Pioneer recently purchased the former Pioneer Equipment building at 215 Centennial Avenue.  A major remodel of the building and grounds is planned, and construction will start soon.  The remodeled facility will provide space for an additional 15 to 20 staff. It will also house our materials testing laboratory and provide state-of-the art space for our field crews. According to Pioneer’s CEO Brad Archibald, “We are proud to make this investment in our Butte headquarters, and we will work hard to create an appealing welcome to those entering uptown from the south.”

Pioneer is working with SMA Architects, SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture, and JLC Construction to design and build the new facility. Watch for more activity at the building starting soon.