The Pasadena Citizen - Growing Pasadena Business Gives Thanks

By Stacey Glaesmann

Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies (ART) had humble beginnings in 2006 in a warehouse in Pearland with a modest 40 employees. In 2011, Pinnacle moved to its current location in Pasadena with 50 employees. Today, the company has over 400 staff members and occupies a "campus" with its own street (Pinnacle Dr.) off of Strawberry in Pasadena.

"Pinnacle Says Thank You" Event was held Friday (Apr. 24) for City, state and national officials as well as employees on its campus, located at One Pinnacle Way. Company founder and Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton, State Senator Brian Babin and Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell delivered rousing speeches.

"Pinnacle has…200 employees living right here in Pasadena. That's 200 employees that may live in the Pasadena area, patronize athletic facilities, shop locally, volunteer their time at non-profit service organizations and eat lunch, I would imagine, on a regular basis as well," said Cristina Womack, Emcee and President of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

"Today we are not only celebrating the expansion of a corporation and its rapidly growing footprint here in Pasadena, we're also celebrating the benefits that local businesses, like Pinnacle, bring to the community," Womack said.

The first speaker, U.S. Congressman Brian Babin, was sworn into the 114th Congress on January 6 as the representative of Texas' 36th Congressional District. Babin serves on the House Transportation Committee, as well as the House Science Committee.

"In southeast Harris County, our ports, our businesses and all the transportation…this is the engine that drives the economy, not only of Houston and Texas, but in many respects, drives the engine of the economy of the United States of America," said Babin. "I am real, real proud of y'all and this is a great event to celebrate."
"It's critical that our local governments and businesses work together. As Ryan [Sitton] was explaining to me with the City of Pasadena…I couldn't be prouder of Pasadena and I know Ryan is very happy that the City is working with them so efficiently. This is what businesses need to create a healthy economy for our residents," Babin remarked.

"Texas created more than half the jobs in the United States over the last five years. Let me repeat that," Babin said as the audience became silent. "We are blessed to live in this area. An area that is at the absolute forefront in creating the next generation of domestic energy that will carry us into the future."

Womack announced the next speaker, Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell. Isbell has served in a City capacity as a City Council Member for 12 years and as Mayor for almost 20 years.

Isbell took time to recognize Port Commissioner Roy Mease, who served eight years on City Council and was also a Municipal Court Judge. He is currently President of Second Century, Pasadena's economic development entity.

"As Mayor, I get to do a lot of great things. This is one of them," said Isbell. "It was just a few years ago that I was here for the ribbon cutting and the Grand Opening of what they called Phase One. But looking around, you would never know it had been such a short time ago. The growth and the expansion that Pinnacle has experienced is absolutely phenomenal," Isbell said.

"I'm happy to say that the City of Pasadena has been a partner since their beginning here. Not only have they created hundreds of jobs here in Pasadena, but they believe in giving back also. The employees regularly work at our animal shelter, our local schools and non-profit agencies and that's only to name a few," Isbell said, nodding to the hundreds of employees sitting under the tent.

Ryan Sitton was the final presenter of the morning. Sitton was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission in November and was sworn in in January.

Sitton and his wife Jennifer founded Pinnacle ART in 2006 to ensure that process facilities within the oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, wastewater and electrical power arenas were operated reliably, safely and efficiently.

"There are two groups that I want to thank today," Sitton said. "The first one is all of the people wearing Pinnacle shirts here. I know, probably more than anybody, that while my name tends to get associated with our business, this business would be nowhere if it weren't for these folks. This business has been built by all of those people and this celebration is a tribute to all who are part of the Pinnacle team."

"The second group of people I want to thank are the folks from the City of Pasadena. They made it easy to move the business here. Our contract promised that we would bring 40 jobs to Pasadena. Mr. Mayor, I think we may have overshot a little bit," Sitton laughed.

"I give all the credit to Paul Davis [Director of Economic Development for the City of Pasadena] and all the folks from the City that had the foresight to see the potential in what we were doing and to make the commitment to invest and provide the infrastructure so we could come here," said Sitton.

Employees and guests then enjoyed refreshments while other dedicated staff members acted as tour guides, showing visitors around the campus and explaining the company's history and function.

Formerly Pinnacle Asset Integrity Services (AIS), the company acquired Advanced Reliability Technologies, LLC (ART) in January, and changed its name to Pinnacle ART.
Pinnacle was recently recognized as one of the top 1,500 fastest growing, privately held companies in the world.

The company's website states, "At Pinnacle, we specialize in the implementation and maintenance of asset integrity management systems for the oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, wastewater and electric power industries.

"We are master implementers, not consultants, and we provide the talented experts, the highest degree of service, innovation, and uncompromised integrity for every one of our projects. Our team consists of leaders in the industry who are dedicated to delivering optimal results in asset integrity management for our clients."

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