40 Years of Evolving, Adapting, and Growing
When we first opened our doors in 1986 the world was a vastly different place than it is today, especially when it comes to technology. Few companies can say they have been in operation for 40 years, so we asked our President, Jeff Stevens, what 40 years means to him:
Forty years in business is not something you plan for when you start. It’s something you earn year by year, decision by decision, relationship by relationship.
When I think about what 40 years means to me, it’s not just longevity. It’s resilience. It’s the willingness to adapt when the market changes, to keep moving forward when times are hard, and to never lose sight of the people who make the journey worthwhile. Very few companies in the United States can say they’ve operated continuously for four decades. Even fewer have done it while evolving through multiple generations of technology, leadership, and customer expectations.
What makes this milestone special is that VPE has never stood still. We didn’t survive by doing the same thing longer; we survived by changing, learning, and improving. We’ve reinvented ourselves multiple times, and every reinvention required trust, courage, and belief in the future.
Most importantly, 40 years represents people. Customers who trusted us. Employees who took a chance on us. Leaders who showed up when it mattered. That legacy is something I carry with deep pride and a deep sense of responsibility.
But more than that, 40 years represents the beginning of what comes next!
