Over the course of 40 years, Jack Pinkard’s work has impacted the transformation of infrastructure across the Pacific Northwest, having engineered more than 10,000 projects that helped shape the region’s growth and resilience. He started his career at Chalker Engineers on Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma at the age of 23 years. His fascination with structural engineering and his commitment to the field have been enduring. His expertise and mentorship have fostered a new generation of leadership at PCS Structural Solutions. Recognized for his unwavering dedication to client service, his considerable technical knowledge, and a ready supply of dog treats of all sizes and types, Jack Pinkard, senior principal, retired from PCS Structural Solutions.
Jack Pinkard grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., where his father worked as a mining engineer. With a talent for mathematics and a love of the outdoors, Jack chose to pursue engineering … above ground in civil engineering. After high school, Jack wanted adventure and nature and decided west was the direction that made sense. The civil engineering program at the University of Idaho provided him with the education he craved and enough trees and mountains to satisfy any outdoor enthusiast.
West Again
Jack graduated with his masters’ degree in 1985, emerging in the middle of a struggling economy. “One of my professors asked me where I wanted to go after graduation,” explains Jack. “I didn’t know. My professor knew engineers in the Seattle area including Ray Chalker with whom he had worked at Boeing.” Chalker had started a structural engineering firm in Tacoma. Introductions were made, and Jack interviewed for a position at Chalker Engineers, now named PCS Structural Solutions. Jack joined as the 17th employee, working alongside fellow University of Idaho alumni Jean Spangler and Don Scott.
Community Impact
Structural engineering captivated Jack, and he thrived on the challenges, deep dives, and meaningful work. Jack is driven by a desire to learn “… every day brought something new and interesting,” he recalls. This constant flow of new challenges prepared him for moments when his expertise was urgently needed. In the wake of the 2001 earthquake, Jack and his colleagues responded to calls, working late into the night inspecting buildings.
Often the first to arrive, and the last to leave the office, Jack enjoyed coming to work every day and collaborating with colleagues and clients. In the early days before virtual meetings, the engineers would make social calls to clients. “We’d spend a day going office to office visiting our clients. I really enjoyed that.”
Professional satisfaction took the form of doing great work and serving the community. “You do think about the people who use the building.” Jack points to the Good Samaritan Children’s Treatment Center, a project that had it all: interesting architecture, engineering challenges, and the satisfaction of helping a special group of people.
From Mentee to Mentor
Mentorship played an important role in Jack’s career both as a young engineer and a seasoned professional. He credits his growth to learning from colleagues and mentors with diverse strengths. “Those differences … It’s what made PCS strong.” He learned not only technical expertise but how to engage clients and support staff.
Jack’s work ethic and reputation are rooted in delivering top-tier work efficiently and effectively. “I have a healthy fear, which is a driver to work harder and dig deeper. I’m more of a production guy, and I wanted to let my performance bring the client back.” Jack was masterful in his ability to manage multiple projects and deliver exceptional work.
Jack in turn had an important impact on PCS Structural Solutions today. His mentorship set the standard for excellence and PCS’s leadership. “Jack has had an extraordinary impact on my career,” says PCS CEO Brian Phair. “From the beginning he taught me the importance of being decisive, precise, and quick to learn, and above all, client service. Over the years, he encouraged me to leverage my strengths to help PCS thrive in new and meaningful ways. Jack is not only a true partner and devoted family man, but he is also an exceptional person whose positive influence on structural engineering has touched dozens of engineers and spanned generations.”
Retirement sits comfortably with Jack Pinkard. He meets this juncture of life with the same steady calm that was the hallmark of his career. He has no fixed plans or bucket list, just a contentment with the choice and the quiet confidence that he’ll navigate retirement just fine. “It’s just another engineering problem to solve.”
PCS is a single-discipline structural engineering firm with offices in Tacoma, Seattle, and Portland.