The Construction Company Where Old School Foundation Creates Next Generation Growth

While most construction companies treat workers as disposable labor, Dave Layton has built something revolutionary at Layton Construction: a business where more than half the employees own company shares and retire as millionaires.

This isn’t just feel-good corporate speak. Under Dave’s leadership, Layton Construction has exploded from $350 million in revenue in 2004 to over $1 billion today, ranking among America’s top 25 construction companies with offices across 11 markets. But the real success story isn’t the revenue growth—it’s how they’ve transformed construction workers’ lives through employee ownership.

From Family Farm Mentality to Fortune 500 Success

Dave Layton learned business the hard way. As the youngest of 10 children, he grew up working in his father’s construction company and maintaining a 2.5-acre vegetable garden his dad called his “golf course.” This “family farm” mentality—where everyone contributes to long-term success—became the foundation of Layton Construction’s employee-first culture.

“We want to be an employer for a career, not a project,” Dave explains in a recent podcast interview. “It’s quite common in our industry that you might hire and fire based on a project. We’ve tried to find a career path for our folks.”

This approach has created something unprecedented in construction: employee retention rates that’s virtually unheard of in the industry. Dave shares that senior executives regularly turn down offers from competitors, including one who declined a CEO’s private jet recruitment pitch, saying “I’m not interested. I’m happy here.”

The Employee Ownership Model That Changes Everything

The secret to Layton Construction’s success lies in their employee ownership program. More than half of their workforce owns company shares, building wealth over 20-40 year careers that transforms not just individual lives, but entire family trees.

“We’ve been able to grow their balance sheet, grow their wealth, and it’s amazing what a 20, 30 or 40 year career of investing has done for our employees,” Dave notes. “When they retire, they have a very nice nest egg of wealth that allows them to pretty much have freedom to do what they want to do the rest of their lives.”

This isn’t just good karma—it’s smart business. When employees think like owners, they deliver consistently better outcomes than the industry standard. In an industry notorious for cost overruns and missed deadlines, Layton Construction has built a reputation for predictable, positive results that keeps clients coming back.

Why Growth Fuels Employee Retention

Dave reveals a counterintuitive truth about employee retention: you can’t keep top talent without constant growth. “Top talent wants to be able to expand their skills. They want more game time, they want the ball more,” he explains. “If we don’t grow, we can’t provide a long-term career path with new opportunities for emerging talent.”

This growth-retention cycle has become self-reinforcing. As Layton Construction expands into new markets, they create advancement opportunities that keep ambitious employees engaged. Meanwhile, their reputation for developing talent attracts “major league superstars” who could work anywhere but choose Layton Construction for the career growth potential.

Leading Through Crisis: Lessons from the Great Recession

Dave’s leadership was tested during the 2008 recession when construction revenues plummeted 30-40%. His advice for business leaders facing similar challenges? “The rock really never rolls on its own. And in our industry, it’s a really big rock and it actually wants to roll backwards. So if you don’t keep pushing, you’re going to get squished.”

The key to surviving downturns, according to Dave, is maintaining your values and protecting your people while staying realistic about market conditions. “Don’t compromise your values, don’t hurt your people… just find a way through it and recognize that on the backside of that curve, it’s likely going to get better.”

Technology and AI: Revolutionizing Traditional Construction

While construction isn’t known for innovation, Layton Construction is pioneering the use of AI and predictive analytics. They’re building integrated databases that can predict safety risks, optimize schedules, and track production in real-time across nearly 300 active projects.

“Can we predict on a given day or a given time of day when we are likely to have an accident based on all this past data?” Dave asks. This isn’t theoretical—they’re using these insights to proactively eliminate risks and improve outcomes.

The company also leverages advanced modeling technology and platforms like Domo to provide executives with real-time dashboards, ensuring leaders focus on the right problems at the right time.

The Mentorship Legacy That Never Ends

Perhaps most remarkably, Dave credits his success to mentorship that literally continued until his father’s final days. With a civil engineering degree from Brigham Young University and an executive management certificate from Harvard Business School, plus experience as a national director with Associated General Contractors, Dave combines formal education with practical wisdom passed down through generations.

“He was 92, but he never stopped mentoring,” Dave recalls. “Right to the end, my dad was talking about how to pour concrete and get the work done.”

This commitment to continuous learning and teaching permeates Layton Construction’s culture, creating leaders who develop other leaders rather than just managing projects.

Building Something That Lasts Generations

Dave Layton’s story offers a blueprint for any business leader wondering how to create lasting success. By treating employees like owners, maintaining relentless focus on growth, embracing technology, and never compromising on values—even during crisis—Layton Construction has built something far more valuable than buildings.

They’ve built a legacy that transforms lives, creates millionaires, and proves that business success and employee welfare aren’t just compatible—they’re inseparable.

Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to Dave Layton’s complete interview on the Mountain West Capital Network Podcast, where he shares detailed insights on leadership, crisis management, and building a business that lasts generations.

Connect with Layton Construction:

  • Website: laytononstruction.com
  • Instagram: @LaytonConstruct