TESTCOMM- From humble beginnings....

In 1996, Jerry Ensminger left a previous testing and balancing firm in the Tri-Cities to start TESTCOMM in Spokane.  Drawing on his experience in the field, plus what was then called verification testing (now commissioning), Jerry’s move was prompted by the need to service two major clients, Eastern Washington University and Sacred Heart Hospital, both still active TESTCOMM clients.  During this time period, Jerry also established a nine year relationship with Nordstrom’s, doing testing and commissioning in new stores across the nation.

Joined by Gerald Ensminger, Sr., bringing many years experience in building operations, field testing and evaluation, and systems evaluation from his Navy career, Jerry began an expansion of the business based on the philosophy dedication to the projects- doing whatever it takes to help make a successful project.  Shortly thereafter, Mike Peak, the current TAB Supervisor, was hired to work with TESTCOMM’s expanding project load. 

During the early years, TESTCOMM developed key relationships with several major contractors in the northwest, including Bouten Construction, Shea (now Graham) Construction, and other specialty contractors.  Jerry became active in the newly formed Building Commissioning Association, and TESTCOMM became a charter member of the organization.  In 1999, Kadlec Medical Center, in Richland,  Washington became another long term customer for TESTCOMM. 

As the year 2000 rolled around, TESTCOMM added staff and was hired by a major contractor in Montana to do testing and balancing on a large project at the Montana State Capital campus.  During the year, TESTCOMM became certified by NEBB (National Environmental Balancing Bureau), one of two recognized certification organizations in the field, to perform HVAC air and hydronic systems balancing, building systems commissioning,  and sound and vibration analysis.  In 2001 TESTCOMM was placed on the commissioning consultant list for Washington State, followed closely by other projects that provided the opportunity for growth.  Some of these projects included work for the University of Montana, Kootenai Medical Center, Holister-Stier Laboratories, Fairchild and Malmstrom Air Force Bases, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) and several community colleges across the state. 

TESTCOMM was contracted by Qwest to provide maintenance services for their facilities starting in 2002 and provided those services for over two years.  Another milestone was when Costco Wholesale, the international warehouse shopping organization, chose TESTCOMM to perform testing and commissioning services for all its new and remodeled facilities across the Unites States, Canada and Mexico, in 2004. 

Some recent and current projects include work at EWU's Patterson Hall Renovation, modernization projects at Ferris and Shadle High Schools in Spokane, expansion on the Intuit Data Center in Quincy, several projects at Malmstrom and Fairchild Air Force Bases, two new residence halls at WSU, Sacred Heart and Cascade Medical Centers, West Valley High School in Yakima, and projects for Community Colleges of Spokane and Yakima Valley Community College.  

As TESTCOMM grows, adding projects across the Northwest, it continues to be the long term service provider of choice for Testing, Adjusting and Balancing, Building Systems Commissioning and related services.