Sponsored by Beard Construction
Beard Construction has come a long way since Jim Beard and a group of partners launched their own company working from a small garage in 2004. That was 20 years ago and in the years since, the company has settled into a multi-building campus in Port Allen and has created a reputation focused on reliability, customer satisfaction, and excellence. A sole-source contractor, Beard Construction can perform nearly every phase of civil construction, including site development, pile driving, concrete foundations, roads, rail and environmental scopes of work. The company has become a regional leader with repeat customers who have helped the company expand and have opened doors to project opportunities across the Gulf South.
IN THE BEGINNING
In their first year in business, the partners landed a $7.5 million job that served as a sign of their eventual success in the industry. “In 20 years, we’ve gone from zero to $100 million in revenue,” says Beard, the company president. “We’ve had recessions and low periods in our industry in that time, but we’ve been able to manage our affairs to the extent that we’ve never had to lay anybody off because of a lack of work.”
Beard is proud of the fact that his company is recognized for helping clients find solutions—from soil conditions to financial budgets. But he says what sets him apart from others is his dedicated employees. “They are the reason we’ve been able to consistently deliver results that make our clients happy,” he says. “They’ve made Beard Construction Group what it is today.”
COMPANY CULTURE
The company employs between 250 and 400 in craft, depending on the time of year, along with about 25 office employees and 25 to 30 supervisors. Matt Milton, executive vice president and chief operating officer, says those employees are family whether they’re related or not.
“They are a big part of our business and we take great lengths to ensure their safety at job sites, provide training, and create career development opportunities for them,” he says. The company also a professional development program (Beard University) for young employees who show leadership potential.
SOLID RELATIONSHIPS
“Beard brings to the table a 20-year history of consistency and positive client relationships,” says Jason Landry, vice president of business development and marketing. “We have a track record of success. We often win projects based on our historical performance and relationships our teams have with the customer—not just on the initial price. To me, that’s an indicator of doing something really well in this business.”
As for the next 20 years? “We’re going to remain true to our core values and capabilities,” Landry says. “In the next 20 years, when clients think of Beard, we want them to think of high project predictability and success—just like they do today.”
