Company History

Forest Construction Company, Inc. was established in 1949 by John Forest Rice and is currently owned and operated by his son, James A. Rice. Jim began his career in the construction industry as a youngster, assisting his father with his general contracting business. Today, Forest is one of the area’s strongest and most respected contracting firms and has built or remodeled thousands of homes in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Jim Rice has owned and operated Forest Construction since 1976. The company’s main office is conveniently located in Westlake Village, California, in the office of its sister company, Showcase Kitchens & Baths, which now has three modern showrooms in Camarillo, Westlake Village, and Encino. The Rice family founded Showcase Kitchens & Baths in 1987 to further meet the remodeling needs of local residents.

James A. Rice was born and raised in Camarillo, California when it was little more than a small farming community nestled below the rolling coastal hills of Ventura County. His father, John Forest Rice, established Forest Construction in 1949 and built his reputation on superb quality, service, and integrity – characteristics which are still the foundation of the company today. Assisting his father with the family business, Jim got early, first-hand knowledge of how to build and maintain a successful general contracting business. John Forest Rice encouraged his children to work hard in construction, attend church, and play stringed musical instruments as he had. Remembering his father’s advice that “a good name is more valuable than gold,” Jim continued his father’s work after his father’s untimely death and after completing his own college education. Jim has now built Forest Construction into one of the top 50 contracting and remodeling companies in the country. Jim exhibited leadership skills even back in high school, where he became president of his class for two years. He acquired great experience in the construction trades by the time he graduated, and went on to earn his business degree from San Diego State University. While in college he formed and toured the nation with “Brush Arbor,” a recording band that eventually released several hits on the Capitol Records label and was voted Vocal Group of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. The business management style at Forest is a blend of Jim’s strong leadership skills with the talents of the staff that he has placed in each position within the company structure. Talented people, using proven organizational systems and procedures, produce great results. Forest Construction exudes a high level of professionalism that is due to having the right people in the right places using the right systems. As President of Forest Construction, Jim actively manages the firm’s design, estimating, and sales staff while also overseeing its Project Managers. He personally monitors the progress and development of each job. Jim places a great importance on family and community. After marrying his high school sweet-heart (the senior class princess) more than 35 years ago, Jim and his wife still live in Camarillo. Jim enjoys playing golf and also still enjoys playing music.