Pfefferkorn Engineering & Environmental
Origin Story
Pfefferkorn Engineering & Environmental (PE2) is a woman-owned business specializing in engineering and environmental services. Established in 2015 by engineer siblings Kate and Gabe Pfefferkorn, PE2 continues a family legacy of infrastructure development spanning generations.
Their great-grandfather, Bill A. Pfefferkorn, founded Pfefferkorn Lumber and was a strong advocate for infrastructure funding, helping establish the first roads and buildings in and around Chaffee, Missouri. The lumber yard later passed to Bill’s children, including Paul Pfefferkorn, and eventually to Paul’s son, Bill J. Pfefferkorn. Bill not only worked at the lumber yard but also earned a degree in civil engineering, later founding Chaffee Building Company. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he and his wife, Mary Jo, along with their team, designed and built numerous commercial and residential properties. Their six children played a hands-on role in shaping infrastructure across southeast Missouri.
From a young age, Gabe showed a passion for construction, building his first bridge at just 12 years old—a sturdy span over a creek near his childhood home, strong enough to support lawn mower traffic. He later pursued a career in engineering. Kate’s path to engineering became clear at age 16 after working alongside her father on home construction projects and witnessing her brother’s impressive builds. During her time at Mizzou, she helped design concrete canoes as part of the Mizzou Concrete Canoe Team and founded the university’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
In their 20s, Kate and Gabe gained valuable industry experience, worked on exciting projects, bought homes, and started families—all while learning from great mentors. In their 30s, they founded Pfefferkorn Engineering & Environmental with a shared vision: to enhance communities and improve lives through thoughtful, well-designed infrastructure. And, of course, to keep playing in the sandbox—only now, on a much larger scale.
Mission
We improve quality of life and better the communities in which we serve through our talents in engineering and environmental services.
Vision
To be an integral part of advancing 5,000 infrastructure projects and developing the next generation of engineers and technical professionals.
Core Values
Service Area
