Ballard has always been a company driven by foreseeing the needs of our clients, proposing innovative solutions, and working hard to achieve them. Ballard’s first “anchor” project, the Liberty Ship Davy Crockett Salvage, was a perfect example of this passion. Ballard teamed with the US Coast Guard to carefully engineer a salvage to prevent more than 32,000 gallons of bunker oil from escaping into the Columbia River. Ballard removed 4.45 million pounds of steel, and another 824,822 pounds of debris, including wire, bricks, and oiled sorbent materials, and 1.6 million gallons of oil and/or otherwise contaminated water. On top of this success, the very challenging and dangerous project was completed with a stellar safety record!
Evolving over the years from a regional diving contractor to an award-winning, nationally recognized heavy civil marine contractor, Ballard has perfected the turnkey offering for our clients providing technical solutions and support on all phases of infrastructure assessment, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance.
As the company recently celebrated 20 years of success and ownership with our founders Jesse and Shilo Hutton, we embark on our next 20 years of continuing the passion they built the company with – be safe, collaborate, challenge, inspire, and most importantly, have fun!
Ballard Diving and Salvage was formed in Ballard WA to support the commercial fishing fleet – performing salvage, emergency response and small diving projects in the Puget Sound area.
Jesse Hutton founded Northwest Underwater Construction after realizing the need for a quality contractor to support the hydro facilities along the Columbia and Snake Rivers and from there, quickly expanded into a nationwide solution for underwater dam rehabilitation work.
Shilo Hutton acquires Ballard Diving & Salvage.
Providing compressed air workers and related equipment to many of the largest and most complex tunnel projects around the world.
Northwest Underwater Construction expands into California and opens a Southwest Regional Office.
Jesse and Shilo Hutton merged and rebranded their regional focused company names Northwest Underwater Construction and Ballard Diving and Salvage into a national brand of Ballard Marine Construction. The primary reason for this was to highlight the company’s move over the decades to become a full service Heavy Civil Marine Contractor.
Ballard Marine Construction acquires assets from Veolia and opens its first Midwest Regional Office in Wisconsin.
Ballard Marine Construction expands into Florida and opens a Southeast Regional Office.
Traylor Construction Group invests in Ballard Marine Construction. Although Ballard remains a standalone, family-owned company, this strategic partnership has given Ballard access to additional resources in crew, equipment, and increased capability, including access to large fabrication resources for things such as gates and trash racks.
Ballard Marine Construction launches a Robotics and Survey Division (RSD) dedicated to remote intervention and inspection solutions for our infrastructure and utility clients nationwide.
Ballard Marine Construction celebrates 20 years of success with our founders Jesse and Shilo Hutton.
Ballard acquires assets from Marine Technologies and opens a Mid-Atlantic Regional Office.
Ballard team members enjoy team building events outside work hours year-round. Our family-like culture is what sets Ballard apart from others – it is ranked highest amongst Ballard employees as the reason for their continued dedication and satisfaction, supporting each other beyond our careers.
Jesse (President/CEO) and Shilo (Executive VP/CAO) Hutton, at the home office holiday ugly sweater contest and potluck event.
The Ballard team works hard and plays hard. Here, the team is having fun with some healthy axe throwing competitions.
After a St. Patrick’s Day-themed trivia contest, the team enjoyed green beverages and refreshments to celebrate the holiday.
Ballard’s Southeast Team after a team lunch.
Team members show off their winning structure constructed by blindfolded team members with instructions from those that could see.
Ballard’s regions competed in daily activities and dressed to impress on ‘Murica Monday, Team Spirit Tuesday (wear your Ballard gear), Wacky Wednesday, Color War Thursday, and Aloha Friday.
The home office brought their A-game for Color War Thursday, during Spirit Week.
During Safety Week, the Ballard team participates in safety drills, training refreshers, and connects over food and contests.
Jesse Hutton, President/CEO, was the master chef marinating the fish in his famous beer batter before frying them. Team members contributed sides and desserts to the fish fry potluck lunch.
Ballard team members enjoy a BBQ lunch to celebrate the summer sunshine.
Team members feeling adventurous joined Jesse Hutton, President/CEO, on a hike through the Cascades during a company-wide weekend retreat.
Blindfolded team members are guided to assemble a puzzle from their team during a team-building event.