On November 2, 1967, a thirty-year-old carpenter named Dee Livingood sold his blue Volkswagen for a thousand dollars and risked everything he had to start his own business. His nickname “Big-Dee” inspired the name for the company

Dee started with almost nothing – very little money, no business experience, and no customers. All he had was a BIG IDEA about the way things ought to be done. He wanted a company based on equal respect for customers and employees. A company based on honesty and integrity. A company where there is no difference between what is said and what is done.

He collected his thoughts, his thousand dollars, and set out to assemble a team of the best people in the industry. He called his founding leaders his “young lions.” Dee focused his passion on customer and employee relationships. He refused to focus on money or chase success. Instead, he quietly focused on doing the right things – and success began chasing him. He taught his “young lions” everything he knew about the business while giving them the freedom to build outstanding careers of their own – and success started chasing them too.

“Then I had to go to Salt Lake to the Department of Business Regulations and get him a contractor’s license, unemployment compensation, industrial accidents and all the other red tape that goes with getting a guy in business. They filled out all the papers and everything and he looked at me and says ‘what’s the name of the company’? I batted my eyes and looked up in the air and I said ‘Big D’.”

– Jack Hilton

In a matter of seconds, the name “Big D” was founded. For many years, the name would be written as either Big D or Big “D”. In the early 90s, the hyphen was added to create “Big-D”.

First year with $1 million in annual sales.

In the early years of Big-D Construction, all deals were generally settled with a handshake. In 1974, Dee Livingood had struck a million-dollar deal with Cream O’Weber. The company brought Dee in and asked him to design and build an addition to their freezer in Ogden. They worked up a price and shook hands on it.

Once the deal and the million-dollar price tag sunk in, Dee suggested that maybe they write something down on paper. A Purchase Order book was pulled out and the million-dollar job was handwritten to Big-D Construction. And that was Dee’s contract for his first million-dollar project.

Rob Moore and Dale Satterthwaite join Dee as Big-D’s first Business Development Manager and Estimator respectively. Dee’s son, Jack, would join two years later.

Big-D Construction completes first large scale design-build project for Kremco. The project marked Big-D’s first multimillion-dollar project.

The office was located near 400 South and 500 East in Salt Lake. It has since been demolished. In just 10 years, Big-D’s annual revenue went from $1 million to $10 million.

Jack Livingood is promoted to President and Dee Livingood devotes career to community service.

Big-D headquarters move from Ogden, Utah to Riverdale, Utah.

Dee Livingood dies at the age 57 after a battle with cancer. Jack Livingood becomes CEO.

During the early 90s, Big-D was searching for an identity to help separate it from the competition. “We were trying to be more corporate,” said Big-D Chief Executive Officer, Rob Moore. “We wanted something that could identify with Big-D Construction. So we tried to look for an identity.”

The vision was to create something that represented both construction and the strength of Big-D. Working with Richter 7 and artist Scott Snow, that identity soon transformed into the Ironman. The initial drawings of the Ironman evolved to include the hard hat and steel beam. “All of a sudden, it stuck,” said Moore. “And we knew that when people look at that, they would identify with Big-D.”

“Our guys in the field absolutely love this image,” adds Jack Livingood. “It represents how they feel about themselves as construction workers.”

The Ironman has stood the test of time. His look and colors have never been altered. And while he has yet to make People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive!” list, signs that bear his image have notoriously been stolen over the years.

More than 20 years after he first joined Big-D Construction, Rob Moore is promoted to President of the company.

By the late 1990s, Big-D Construction remained one of the leaders in the commercial construction industry in Utah. Around this time, Jack Livingood and Bill Smith were eying the high-end residential market. “Every so often, we would have a customer ask us to build their homes. So we had built a couple,” said Livingood.

Jack had also built a relationship with JLF & Associates out of Bozeman, Montana. The architecture firm was hired to design Jack’s house in Wyoming. “That sort of triggered us to try a few of these big houses. And that is how Signature started,” said Livingood.

Since 2001, Signature has constructed several multi-million dollar homes in Utah, Wyoming, California, and even Tennessee. Working with JLF & Associates under the umbrella JLF Design Build, the two firms have constructed more than $300 million in projects. Aside from its office in Jackson, Wyoming, Signature opened a second office in Park City, Utah, and has even worked on some commercial projects. Several of its projects have been featured in magazines and books. “Signature is a good business,” said Livingood. “It is extraordinary what Signature has done.”

Big-D Pacific opens in Pleasanton, California under Ken Mitchell.

The Fuller Paint Building has been a unique part of downtown Salt Lake City since it was first constructed it in 1922. In 2004, Jack Livingood purchased the building and embarked on a restoration project that would garner a LEED Gold certification and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s Big-D’s home, but it also has some seldom discussed secrets.

Big-D opens the Lindon Regional Office.

First year of corporate sales totaling more than $600 million.

Big-D’s Midwest Minnesota Regional Office opens.

Martin-Harris Construction Company, Nevada’s top builder, merges with the Big-D group of companies and continues to operate independently.

Nearly 50 years since it was first founded, Big-D Construction achieves a billion dollars in sales. At the time, nearly 1,000 employees are employed at Big-D’s Corporate and Regional Offices.

Big-D opens Regional Office in Park City for Signature. The same year, a Signature project is named “Home of the Year” by Mountain Living Magazine.

Big-D Construction makes several organizational changes to facilitate its growth. Rob Moore is promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Forrest McNabb is promoted to President of the Mountain West Group.

As Big-D’s brand expands nationally, Cory Moore is promoted to Executive Vice President and National Managing Director of Big-D’s regional offices. Troy Thompson joins Big-D as Executive Vice President. The two would be tasked with expanding Big-D’s national footprint while supporting its seven regional offices.

Big-D also named “Contractor of the Year” by the Utah Chapter of CCIM.

Big-D Construction acquires Arizona general contractor Johnson Carlier. The announcement was made in October 2017.

Since it was founded in 1921, Johnson Carlier has left its mark on the Phoenix area with hundreds of successful projects, especially in its most robust markets including: automotive, food & beverage, distribution, higher education, hospitality, and healthcare. “This acquisition is part of Big-D’s vision to strengthen our company through alliances with premier builders in selected markets,” said Jack Livingood, Big-D Construction Chairman. “Johnson Carlier has a storied history and is highly respected for its integrity and service to its customers. We are excited to be a part of their future.”

On November 2, 2017, Big-D Construction celebrates its 50-year anniversary. As part of the celebration, Big-D released a book commemorating its 50-year tenure in the construction business.

From laborer, to Chief Estimator, to Senior Vice President and member of the Board, Dale Satterthwaite has worn many hard hats since the early days of Big-D Construction. Fresh off a church mission and his honeymoon, Dale’s first job with the company was working on the Freeport Center Post office. Now, after more than 43 years, Dale Satterthwaite retired from Big-D Construction.

“It has personally been a growing and learning experience, and I wouldn’t wish for it to be any different”, said Satterthwaite on his career here at Big-D Construction. Dale says he plans to spend his retirement working on personal projects as well as in his shop fixing toys for his grandkids. Dale says he hopes to serve another LDS mission with his wife.

Dovetail Construction announces new strategic partnership with Big-D Signature and its parent company, Big-D Construction.

Big-D Construction makes strategic changes to its executive leadership team. Cory Moore is named National President of Big-D Construction’s global family of companies. Troy Thompson is named Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Big-D. Rob Moore continues to lead as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Big-D Midwest moves its growing office from Minneapolis to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Big-D Construction signs definitive agreement to acquire Boise-based McAlvain Companies, Inc. The company will continue with the same name and is locally managed.

Corporate Controller Blake Van Roosendaal is promoted to the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. The move comes after Larry Worrell announced his retirement after 16 years with the firm.

Inc. Magazine recently recognized Big-D Construction for the first time on their 2019 Inc. 5000 Most Successful Companies in America list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held companies. Big-D Construction is honored to be the only commercial construction company in Utah to make the list and ranked #232 among the honorees in the construction field across the nation. This is truly a defining moment for our company!

The 2019 Inc. 5000 list is ranked according to the percentage of revenue growth from 2015 to 2018 and Big-D’s steady 3-year revenue growth rate was 58%. We wish to thank each of our dedicated employees and partners who have helped us get to where we are today through our 52-year journey in our mission to be the most sought-after construction company in the business!

Congratulations to Big-D’s own CEO, Rob Moore, on being named as a Utah Business 2020 CEO of the Year! Rob is an excellent leader and continues to set an example for all Big-D employees, including the next generation of executive leaders. He firmly believes in helping up-and-coming leaders understand that there is a future for them in the construction industry, and that construction can provide you with a career—not just merely a job.

Thanks to Rob for his leadership and guidance in defining what it means to ‘Think Big’.

Holder | Big-D Construction, A Joint Venture, recognizes our partners and our community for one smooth takeoff.

The new Salt Lake City Airport officially opened its gates on September 15, and no participating partner was prouder of its association than Utah’s own Big-D Construction. Working as part of Holder | Big-D A Joint Venture (HDJV), our teams brought the New SLC Airport in on time, on course, and on budget.

“This is a significant announcement for our company and future. We have worked on our succession planning over the last decade and this strategic move is part of that plan and is a major step in realizing our goals,” said Rob Moore.

In a unanimous decision by the Big-D Companies Board of Directors, Cory will take global responsibility for its 16 offices nationwide. His job will ensure we continue to preserve our mission of being the most sought after by our associates and customers. He will also continue to stimulate progress and drive Big-D Companies’ vision of growth and investment in our future.
“Cory is the right leader for Big-D,” said Jack Livingood, Big-D’s Chairman of the Board. “Cory’s extensive experience along with his leadership and communication skills will help us grow our national footprint to better serve our customers. Big-D is in good hands with Cory.”

Cory Moore has been with Big-D for nearly 25 years and has been an especially impactful leader of the company’s growth. He has been involved in many of Big-D’s most iconic projects and in recent years has been serving as the companies National President and a member of its Board of Directors.

Sant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.  As Chief Strategy Officer, it will be his duty to consistently clarify the Big-D Companies vision and communicate it to all our leaders and associates. Additionally, it is his responsibility to develop, organize and prioritize the strategic objectives and tasks that need to be completed to support our vision becoming a reality.

As CIO, Orr will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible for the effective leadership, strategy, and implementation of the organization’s information and policies as related to Human Resources and Technology.  Orr will provide expertise and future vision to leverage technology and human capital management to ensure Big-D Companies’ commitment to growth and innovation.  The CIO will work closely with other department heads to align these strategies with the overall business goals and Big-D Companies’ strategic plan.

Big-D opens a new office in Tempe, Arizona for Heavy Industrial.

Big-D Construction announced it has acquired CFC Construction. Based in Golden, Colorado, CFC Construction has served the state for 45 years. Under new ownership, the company will continue to be locally managed and operate under the same name. Chairman and Founder, EJ Olbright, will continue in his role with CFC, along with CFC President Pat Smith.