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COP Construction
  • About
    • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Employee Testimonials
    • COP History Timeline
  • Safety
    • Commitment to Safety
  • COVID-19 RESPONSE
  • Projects
    • Underground Utilities
    • Treatment Plants & Pump Stations
    • Highways, Streets & Bridges
    • Heavy Civil
    • Industrial
    • Trenchless Construction & Hydro Excavation
  • Careers
    • Professional Positions
    • Craft Positions
    • COP University
    • Hear From Our Employees
  • Plan Room
  • News
    • Latest News
    • COP Chronicle
  • Contact Us
  • COVID-19 RESPONSE

COP Timeline

Home COP Timeline

2019

COP moves it’s Utah office to a new location in North Salt Lake.

2018

COP exceeds $73 million in volume

2017

Glen Perry joins COP as the Chief Operating Officer.

2017

Dennis McPherson, Vice President of Operations retires after 47 years with the company. Dennis made his start as a laborer working in Yellowstone National Park in 1972 and held various leadership positions during his successful career at COP.

Pictured left to right; Ed Bedell and Dennis McPherson

2014

COP is awarded it’s first design-build project. The Judith River trestle in central Montana is heavily damaged during flooding.

2013

COP completes its largest project to date. The Spanish Fork Provo Reservoir Canal pipeline at $46,880,000.

2010

COP Wyoming LLC moves it’s office to Sheridan, Wyoming.

2009

COP completes it’s second largest project to date. The Springville Reach Pipeline at $36,305,000.

2009

COP continues to build successful infrastructure projects.

2008

COP Wyoming LLC is formed and opens an office in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Dennis McPherson assumes the role of Vice President, COP Wyoming.

2007

COP exceeds $70 million in volume

2006

COP exceeds $50 million in volume

2003

COP Construction Co. is officially changed to COP Construction LLC. John Hansen Jr. becomes the Chief Executive Officer, and Ed Bedell is named  President.

2002

COP exceeds $40 million in volume

2001

COP exceeds $30 million in volume

1997

Ed Bedell joins COP as Vice President of the Utah region.

1997

COP Celebrates 50 Years

Pictured: John Hansen, Sr. and his wife, Jean “Bunny” Hansen.

1996

COP exceeds $20 million in volume

1995

COP expands the business geographically, and opens an office in Salt Lake City, Utah. John Hansen Jr. solicits Gary Stanton to run the Salt Lake operations.

1994

John Hansen, Jr. is elected president of the Montana Contractor’s Association. Around this same time, John also assumes the role of President of COP Construction Co.

1993

COP completes the largest bridge project in company history at $8.25 million. The East Bridge project in Billings, Montana spans over the Yellowstone River. It is known today as the Dick Johnson Bridge.

1990’s

COP is one of the most reputable contractors in the state of Montana, completing a variety of successful projects across Montana and Wyoming.

1981

John “Hans” Hansen, Jr. leaves Peter Kiewit Sons to join his father at COP as Vice President.

1980’s

During the 1980’s, COP continues to build infrastructure projects across Montana and Wyoming.

1980

COP exceeds $16 million in volume

1979

COP exceeds $13 million in volume.

Click to view photos.

1972

Tom Dolan and two other employees are killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning on a large COP irrigation project.

John Hansen, Sr. fills the key leadership void and, at the same time, buys out Tom’s shares of stock from his widow.

This tragic event changed the way COP would view safety forever. This led to COP’s commitment to safety that remains until today.

1962

Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons bring on an old classmate from Montana State University, John Hansen, Sr. as a shareholder and Vice President. Around the same time, Jim Lyons leaves COP, making Tom Dolan President of COP Construction Co.

1960’s

During the 1960’s, COP begins to focus on municipal utility and bridge projects in Montana and Wyoming.

Click to view additional photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

1957

COP Construction Corporation – Wyoming subsidiary is incorporated

1950’s

During the 1950’s, Jim Lyons is the Senior Executive and Tom Dolan is running the day-to-day operations as COP’s culture is taking shape. COP begins building schools, churches, commercial buildings, new home construction and bridges. Some of the work is focused in Yellowstone National Park.

Click to view additional photos

 

 

 

 

 

1949

After construction is completed on the surplus homes and buildings, some of the original stockholders leave. Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons (Lefty’s son), who were instrumental in the successful completion of the projects, decide to stay on and continue building future projects. Lefty also stays on, and would remain the company’s visionary.

1947

COP Construction, Co is established

Local Billings entrepreneur, L.R. “Lefty” Lyons purchases war surplus property and needs a local contractor to move the properties to Billings to sell as homes and commercial property. He solicits a local contractor Francis Flynn to move the properties for trade in stock in COP.

 

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Billings, MT 59106
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Utah Office

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North Salt Lake, UT 84054
801-298-9556
801-298-9725
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Wyoming Office

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307-673-2570
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2019

COP moves it’s Utah office to a new location in North Salt Lake.

2018

COP exceeds $73 million in volume

2017

Glen Perry joins COP as the Chief Operating Officer.

2017

Dennis McPherson, Vice President of Operations retires after 47 years with the company. Dennis made his start as a laborer working in Yellowstone National Park in 1972 and held various leadership positions during his successful career at COP.

Pictured left to right; Ed Bedell and Dennis McPherson

2014

COP is awarded it’s first design-build project. The Judith River trestle in central Montana is heavily damaged during flooding.

2013

COP completes its largest project to date. The Spanish Fork Provo Reservoir Canal pipeline at $46,880,000.

2010

COP Wyoming LLC moves it’s office to Sheridan, Wyoming.

2009

COP completes it’s second largest project to date. The Springville Reach Pipeline at $36,305,000.

2009

COP continues to build successful infrastructure projects.

2008

COP Wyoming LLC is formed and opens an office in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Dennis McPherson assumes the role of Vice President, COP Wyoming.

2007

COP exceeds $70 million in volume

2006

COP exceeds $50 million in volume

2003

COP Construction Co. is officially changed to COP Construction LLC. John Hansen Jr. becomes the Chief Executive Officer, and Ed Bedell is named  President.

2002

COP exceeds $40 million in volume

2001

COP exceeds $30 million in volume

1997

Ed Bedell joins COP as Vice President of the Utah region.

1997

COP Celebrates 50 Years

Pictured: John Hansen, Sr. and his wife, Jean “Bunny” Hansen.

1996

COP exceeds $20 million in volume

1995

COP expands the business geographically, and opens an office in Salt Lake City, Utah. John Hansen Jr. solicits Gary Stanton to run the Salt Lake operations.

1994

John Hansen, Jr. is elected president of the Montana Contractor’s Association. Around this same time, John also assumes the role of President of COP Construction Co.

1993

COP completes the largest bridge project in company history at $8.25 million. The East Bridge project in Billings, Montana spans over the Yellowstone River. It is known today as the Dick Johnson Bridge.

1990’s

COP is one of the most reputable contractors in the state of Montana, completing a variety of successful projects across Montana and Wyoming.

1981

John “Hans” Hansen, Jr. leaves Peter Kiewit Sons to join his father at COP as Vice President.

1980’s

During the 1980’s, COP continues to build infrastructure projects across Montana and Wyoming.

1980

COP exceeds $16 million in volume

1979

COP exceeds $13 million in volume.

Click to view photos.

1972

Tom Dolan and two other employees are killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning on a large COP irrigation project.

John Hansen, Sr. fills the key leadership void and, at the same time, buys out Tom’s shares of stock from his widow.

This tragic event changed the way COP would view safety forever. This led to COP’s commitment to safety that remains until today.

1962

Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons bring on an old classmate from Montana State University, John Hansen, Sr. as a shareholder and Vice President. Around the same time, Jim Lyons leaves COP, making Tom Dolan President of COP Construction Co.

1960’s

During the 1960’s, COP begins to focus on municipal utility and bridge projects in Montana and Wyoming.

Click to view additional photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

1957

COP Construction Corporation – Wyoming subsidiary is incorporated

1950’s

During the 1950’s, Jim Lyons is the Senior Executive and Tom Dolan is running the day-to-day operations as COP’s culture is taking shape. COP begins building schools, churches, commercial buildings, new home construction and bridges. Some of the work is focused in Yellowstone National Park.

Click to view additional photos

 

 

 

 

 

1949

After construction is completed on the surplus homes and buildings, some of the original stockholders leave. Tom Dolan and Jim Lyons (Lefty’s son), who were instrumental in the successful completion of the projects, decide to stay on and continue building future projects. Lefty also stays on, and would remain the company’s visionary.

1947

COP Construction, Co is established

Local Billings entrepreneur, L.R. “Lefty” Lyons purchases war surplus property and needs a local contractor to move the properties to Billings to sell as homes and commercial property. He solicits a local contractor Francis Flynn to move the properties for trade in stock in COP.