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.

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.

Salt Lake City, Utah office opened. The team there also purchased their first computer, a used Apple III.

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

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 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.

When Cory Schubert, Chris Grzybowski, and Tom Driscoll approached the leaders at Big-D Construction in 2013, their plan was simple: bring the Big-D brand to Minnesota’s growing construction market.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to provide a place for people to work, grow their careers, and do what they love,” said Cory Schubert.

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.

Big-D Midwest purchased the building and did a full renovation to make it an incredible space for the company to grow and showcase the Big-D brand.

After 44 years in the construction industry, Project Development Vice President, Ken Braun, retires from Big-D Midwest.

A well-respected and trusted construction industry professional, Braun, was significant in putting Big-D on the map in the Midwest market and building trust for the company after they entered the Twin Cities in 2013. Braun has been strategic in helping Big-D Midwest navigate relationships with clients, architects, consultants. “He didn’t just bring with him projects, but strong relationships and notoriety to Big-D,” said Cory Schubert President of Big-D Midwest.

“I really do enjoy working with Big-D, I’m retiring, but I’m glad it’s Big-D I’m retiring from. The flavor of Big-D, the platform if you will, fits my approach to how I do business. Big-D Midwest is a solid player out here and a well-respected general contractor in the market,” said Ken Braun.

Callahan joined Big-D Midwest in 2021 as part of a long-term plan to replace retiring Vice President of Project Development, Ken Braun, and is responsible for operational duties with Cory Schubert.

For the new President, the cohesion on their first project set the bar for all work in the Midwest office—they would work and win as a team. Since that time, Cory has guided Midwest to construct over 5,000 units and win $1 billion worth of work across a multitude of projects.

Cory has been an integral part of the team-centric environment that continues to this day—one where success is shared by the entire Big-D Construction Midwest team. That mutual support is a defining feature, one that speaks to the new President’s best bit of advice as he and his team continue their great work across the Midwest.

“Working within a team you can never be too proud to ask for help or ask for a fresh set of eyes,” he said. “We make decisions as a team and focus on each person’s strengths. It’s worked for us from day one and will continue to be the Big-D Midwest plan for success.”