History

Years in Business

150

Employees

1000

Homes Developed

7000

HOA Units Managed

1948

Founded by Fred Hignell and his partner at the time, Floyd Strange, the company constructed more than 1,000 homes across 25 subdivisions, along with numerous apartment and commercial projects. For the next two decades, Hignell & Strange were producing over sixty percent of new home construction within the City of Chico, establishing Chico’s first subdivision and some of the City’s most familiar neighborhoods.
1970s

Doug Hignell joined his father, establishing the Hignell & Hignell partnership that remains familiar to many long-time residents of Chico and Butte County. Doug brought a renewed focus to the company, helping lead its expansion into real estate syndication and property management services. By the middle of the decade, Hignell & Hignell had formed several partnerships to continue developing and investing in our local community.
1980s

Hignell expanded by providing Homeowner Association Management services for communities in Chico and Northern California, further broadening its role in supporting local communities.
1990s

Hignell Incorporated continued to build, manage, and maintain properties, including the development of two more large apartment complexes in Chico, Amanda Place with 144 units, and Forest Avenue with 224 units. The next decade also saw the development of The Courtyard at Little Chico Creek, a Senior Assisted Living Facility.
2000s

The company name evolved to The Hignell Companies, reflecting its growing impact across Northern California. Development continued with several of Chico’s most notable apartment communities.
2004

The Hignell Companies completed Sterling Oaks Apartments, a 188-unit luxury apartment community in Chico. During this time, property management services also expanded into the Sacramento market, bringing the same professional, community-focused support to additional property owners throughout Northern California.
2010s

Experts In Your Home was established to provide construction and remodeling services throughout Butte County, helping property owners preserve value and enhance their investments. During this decade, The Hignell Companies also expanded into the Redding market, delivering residential, commercial, and HOA management services to property owners across Shasta County.
2019

Doug Hignell served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors up until his passing in September of 2019. The Hignell Companies is still a family company at its core, and the family’s interests will continue to be represented with Doug's daughter Keri stepping into his role as the Chairman of the Board.
2026

The Hignell Companies celebrates 78 years of Creating Caring Communities That Transform Lives by supporting properties, helping neighborhoods thrive, and providing dependable service to every owner.

Our Mission

Our mission is to create an internal caring community where employees flourish while delivering exceptional property management and construction services. Through responsible stewardship, we sustain safe and thriving environments at local residential and commercial properties, build and remodel our local communities, and provide Community Association boards with professional, reliable support.

Why We Exist

At The Hignell Companies, our work extends beyond property operations. Every decision, service, and partnership is designed to strengthen relationships and create environments where residents, owners, employees, and communities can grow and thrive together.

Timeless Principles

For more than 78 years, The Hignell Companies has been guided by enduring principles that shape how we lead and serve. Integrity in every action, encouragement and honor in how we treat others, generosity in service, growth and innovation in how we improve, and relationship-centered leadership remain the foundation of our culture and long-term success.

Operational Depth Under One Roof

With offices in Chico, Redding, and Roseville, The Hignell Companies maintains a long-standing presence across Northern California, serving owners and communities throughout Butte County and the greater North State region. Our companies cover:

Comprehensive Property Management: Residential, Commercial, and HOA services delivered with operational consistency and long-term focus.
Development and Syndication Experience: Deep expertise in real estate investment, project development, and asset strategy.
General Contracting and Maintenance Capabilities: In-house construction and maintenance teams ensure quality control, cost efficiency, and responsiveness.
Advanced Rental Marketing Technology: State-of-the-art systems that enhance visibility, streamline leasing, and improve occupancy performance.
Financial Leadership and Forecasting: Strategic budgeting, reporting, and long-range financial planning that protect and strengthen asset value.
Community-Building Partnerships: Meaningful nonprofit and community collaborations that support thriving neighborhoods beyond property operations.

Hignell’s Community Impact

Creating Caring Communities (CCC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of residents and staff within apartment communities. Through dedicated Caring Community Teams, CCC fosters connection and belonging by hosting weekly community events, welcoming new residents, and offering support during times of special need — helping cultivate communities where people know and care for one another.

CCC was born from the vision of former Chairman Doug Hignell, who recognized the need for authentic community within apartment living. The program places Caring Community Teams as ambassadors within communities, serving as relational hubs that build trust and create meaningful connections. Guided by the core value of honor, CCC prioritizes relationships, believing strong community enriches lives and strengthens neighborhoods.

The Hignell Companies continues to give back to our employees and our community through The Hignell Companies Foundation, a foundation offering financial resources to eligible community organizations. A portion of our foundation funds the needs of our family of employees, and a portion is allocated to help others in our community who are working towards goals that align with our corporate vision, helping make an impact in the communities that The Hignell Companies calls home.

Philip Larios

President and CEO

Phil Larios oversees all of The Hignell Companies. Phil joined the firm in 2003. He came to Hignell with extensive business and construction experience, 5 years of general management, and 20 years of executive management in professional/retail lumber sales, manufacturing, construction, fabrication, facility management, investment, and the sales and purchasing of commodities. Phil has over 25 years of risk and insurance experience across California and Nevada. Phil places a high priority on ethics, combining a strong marketing and sales focus with a commitment to quality customer care and improvement of the community in which we live. (BRE #1766783)

Colleen Souza

CFO

Colleen joined The Hignell Companies in 2016 and is the Chief Financial Officer. Colleen provided consulting services for The Hignell Companies for the 3 years prior to joining the company and brings over 20 years of accounting experience. Her experience includes traditional CPA auditing in agricultural, hospital, and college environments, as well as consulting for large organizations as an outsourced CFO. Colleen is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and management of the finance and accounting team across all of our divisions. In addition, she manages financial forecasting and budgeting processes and oversees the preparation of all financial reporting. She works with our corporate team as an advisor on long-term business and financial planning.

Tina Rosenquist

CAO

Tina joined The Hignell Companies in 2006 and has served in a number of roles within the company, giving her a well-rounded understanding of every part of the company. This positions her perfectly to focus on culture development and ensure our employees are well cared for. As part of her role, Tina oversees the HR department, office operations, and the administrative team, and assists with the development and implementation of office policies and procedures. She uses her organizational skills to ensure smooth operations and inter-departmental coordination. In her ongoing contributions to our community, Tina serves on the Chico Community Leadership Board for the Boys and Girls Club of the North Valley and on the Board of the Creating Caring Communities Foundation. Tina’s years of experience, knowing how everything runs, bring an invaluable perspective to the team.

Greg Wietbrock

VP Property Management

Greg joined The Hignell Companies in 2008 as a Vice President in the Property Management division. Prior to joining us, Greg had 31 years of corporate leadership experience in the produce industry, including years as the Director of Procurement. He is committed to excellence in everything he touches. In his capacity as Vice President, Greg oversees the operational management of our Community Association and Multi-Family property management divisions. (BRE #1954183).

Will Chan

VP Commercial and Residential Fee Management

Will joined The Hignell Companies in March of 2017, taking over as the General Manager of our newly acquired Redding division. Will came to us with over a decade of experience in Real Estate and has played a key role in expanding The Hignell Companies in the Redding area. Will is a licensed California Real Estate Broker and General Contractor, as well as a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) candidate who has completed all his courses. In his capacity as Vice President, Will oversees the operational management of our Commercial and Single Family Homes division and brings his strong leadership, strategic planning, asset and property management, and real estate acquisitions and sales skills. DRE #: 01850160.

Partner With a Company Built for the Long Term

With more than 78 years of experience serving Northern California, The Hignell Companies brings proven leadership, operational depth, and long-term perspective to every property we support. Our integrated approach, financial expertise, and commitment to responsible stewardship help protect assets, reduce risk, and strengthen communities. When you choose Hignell, you gain a stable, experienced partner dedicated to your property’s performance and your long-term success.

Connect with our team to learn why so many owners and communities trust The Hignell Companies.

Why The Hignell Companies

A Legacy of Stewardship and Growth