One of the first questions I’m often asked is why the company is called Rife Construction Management.

Rife is a family name and the nickname of my great-grandfather, whom I knew simply as Papa Rife.

His given name was William Lorenzo Rifenberick, a California native, engineer, and graduate of Stanford University. Family history holds that he contributed to the design of a gun mount used on early aircraft during World War I- a system that incorporated interrupter gear to prevent the machine gun from striking the airplane’s propeller blades. According to family stories, he also shared an office at one time with aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky.

There is another piece of family lore about Papa Rife that remains a subject of spirited debate. The story goes that as a very young man he once derailed a train. My father insists the story is absolutely true, while my great-aunt insists just as firmly that it is not. Like many family legends, the truth may never be fully settled.

What is certain, however, is how deeply Papa Rife was loved by his family.

His influence continues across generations. My own full name is Jeffrey Rife Bening, with “Rife” as my middle name in his honor. My son also carries the name Rife as his middle name. Naming this company after Papa Rife felt like a natural continuation of that legacy.

Papa Rife spent his career as a mechanical engineer, approaching problems with careful thought, discipline, and creativity. Those same principles guide the work of Rife Construction Management today. Every project begins with the end in mind, considering not only how a structure will be built, but how design, engineering, economics, and ownership goals must align from the very beginning.

Naming this company after him is both a personal honor and a reminder of the values he represented: thoughtful engineering, integrity in work, and pride in building things that last.