Suburban Testing Labs Celebrates 55 Years and Looks to the Future
With longevity in business a thing of the past, this growing Berks County firm continues to be firmly rooted.
Our region’s largest environmental testing laboratory is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year.
Founded in 1963, Suburban Testing Labs has grown from a small, regional water testing company to one of the largest family-owned, independent, single-site environmental testing laboratories in North America. The company’s 55 years of year-over-year revenue growth is testament to its commitment to service excellence.
Third generation owner, and second generation of the Stump Family, Rich Stump, III, has led the organization’s growth. 15 years ago there were 12 employees operating out of a 5,000 square foot facility in Muhlenberg Township. Under Mr. Stump’s leadership, the company now has a 75 person, 22,500 square foot operation in Bern Township near the Reading Regional Airport. And he isn’t planning to stop there.
“We have our sights set on delivering high quality data used to make important environmental decisions in our region,” Mr. Stump Said. “Our goal is to be one of the top 5 most profitable environmental labs in the country by deilvering on this promise.”
Suburban Testing Labs continues to add technical jobs to our local employment base. Last year they expanded by adding an additional 5,000 square feet of laboratory space to increase capacity for their growing client list. The expansion included a new Organic Chemistry Extraction Laboratory, and a new Volatile Organic Analysis Laboratory, plus additional of state-of-the-art equipment. With the expansion of clients and space, came demand for new jobs in chemistry, biology, and environmental science. The organization plans to celebrate this milestone anniversary and expansion with an Open House showcasing the new laboratories in October.
Firmly rooted in high-standards with an eye soaring to new heights, Mr. Stump credits adherence to the organization’s four core values as their key success factor: Integrity, Quality, Commitment and Innovation.
“We really work to foster a strong, engaged culture of professionals that adhere to these values. Then they take care of our clients in that same way, which sets us apart,” said Mr. Stump. “Honestly, many of our employees are like a second family to me. And I think that makes all the difference.”
For more inforatmion, please visit suburbantestinglabs.com or call 1-800-433-6595.
Founded: 1963
Where: Bern Township, PA
Company’s Principal Leaders: Richard C. Stump, III serves as President and Director of Laboratory Operations
Company Produces: Suburban Testing Labs is a full-service environmental testing laboratory specializing in analysis of water, wastewater, soil, and solid materials.
Employees: 75
About Us
Suburban Testing Labs is a nationally recognized independent environmental testing laboratory specializing in analysis of water, wastewater, soil, and solid materials. We are accredited in accordance with NELAC (National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference) and commit to providing defensible data at a competitive price with first-class customer service.
Suburban Testing Laboratories has 55 years of experience in environmental testing for microbiological, inorganic and organic contaminants. Our technical staff has grown from a few technicians in the late 1990’s to a full staff of highly educated analytical professionals today (over 60% have BS in biology or chemistry). We continuously rank on the list of Greater Reading’s Top 50 Businesses.
Our Mission
As an independent, family-owned and operated testing laboratory Suburban Testing Labs’ core mission is to provide accurate, sound and defensible data needed to support environmental decision making. Our relentless dedication to customers, our team, & ourselves creates a superior customer experience and builds relationships that preserve the health of our environment, work life, home life and community. We resolve to develop our people in an open, creative work place in order to foster an environment & business culture that embodies ingenuity & optimizes resources.