CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT


Foundation Constructors Turns 50 With Eye on the Future


By Carol Eaton H


alf a century ago, in 1971, Fred Cavin and his partners Ray Rose, Joe Hilton and Barney


Murdock established Foundation Constructors, Inc. with the mission to provide safe, cost-effective and innovative foundations for the construction industry. Teir vision and hard work enabled the company to grow from its early days that began with a single 30-ton truck crane into a modern, dynamic and industry leading pile driving company that performs work on projects throughout California. Since its founding, Foundation


Constructors has built a strong portfolio of projects that have helped lay the foundation—quite literally—for critical development and infrastructure growth in the Golden State. Engineering News-Record ranked the company #344 in its 2020 Top 600 Specialty Contractors list, up from its ranking of #409 the year prior.


Strength Through Growth Foundation Constructors maintains


its corporate offices in Oakley, CA. It acquired H.F. Lauritzen Construction in 1976 and in 1978 established a wholly owned subsidiary, Foundation Pile Inc., to better service the Southern California market with offices in Fontana and San Diego. In 2006 it entered the drilled foundation market by purchasing the assets of American Pile Driving. Tis brought with it a variety of patented and proprietary drilled foundation projects along with a new level of engineering expertise. Foundation Constructors and


Foundation Pile collectively own and maintain a fleet of about 40 pieces of heavy equipment, including multiple


18 November/December 2021 Dermot Fallon


cranes and drill rigs. Te company specializes in multiple types of deep foundation piling for the commercial, infrastructure, industrial, and energy industries, as well as a long list of other agencies and institutions. Among its larger projects are recent


work at San Francisco International Airport as well as the iconic Mission Rock development in San Francisco, where it is currently completing the


third of four buildings. It helped build the iconic Century Freeway project near Los Angeles and the Victoria Canal Intake and Pump Station, which helped modernize the water delivery system for the Contra Costa Water District. In the San Diego region, it is currently focusing on the planned expansion of San Diego Interna- tional Airport among other current or planned jobs.


Change in Top Leadership With a core workforce that


currently totals around 100 employees, expandable to meet project needs, Foundation Constructors maintains an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that has contributed to the retention of key employees over the years. Recently, the company announced


changes to its leadership that will position it for continued growth well into its next half century in business. Dermot Fallon was elevated to President and CEO in August 2021 after 21 years in a variety of roles at the company. He replaces Derek Haleky, who is retiring in January 2022 after seven years at the helm. Joining Fallon in the top leadership ranks are John Honaker, Vice President of Operations, Osama Martell, Vice President of Estimating and Project Management, and Brook Serafino, Controller. “It is an incredible honor for me to


lead and serve this great company. I am committed to continuing the values of Fred Cavin and the original founders of the company of safety, respect, integrity and teamwork,” Fallon commented. California Constructor asked Fallon


for his insights as company President and CEO on what sets Foundation


California Constructor


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