Layden brings a deep, hands-on knowledge of the construction industry to B&D, having built his career from the ground up over the past decade. Known for his outside-the-box problem-solving and structural concrete expertise, he excels at taking on unorthodox jobsite challenges and delivering projects that leave a lasting generational impact on the community. Outside of work, Layden is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys recharging on Saturday morning motorcycle rides or spending time out on the water with a fishing rod in hand.
“I keep my OSHA 10 and 30 up to date, along with DOT traffic control and flagging certifications. I’m big on safety, so I re-certify annually in Red Cross First Aid/CPR and the 'Stop the Bleed' course. I’ve also held state-level certifications for confined space work and trench safety inspections.”
It’s a bit of a complex journey. I started at Tabor College in Kansas on an athletic scholarship, studying Biology, focusing on a path toward forensic pathology. After an injury changed those plans, I returned home to study at HCC and the University of Houston. Eventually, I found a Construction Management program through Everglades University. While I got all the way to my senior year, I realized that in this industry, what you know and who you know often outweighs a piece of paper. Between all my various programs and AP courses, I probably earned two degrees' worth of credits, but my real education happened on the job.
Absolutely. The medical background is vital for safety—I’ve had to jump in on scenes to handle everything from heat stroke to major lacerations. My construction coursework in Florida also gave me a strong handle on contract law, codes, and the 'rules of the game.' However, the vast majority of my training has come from doing the work, making mistakes, and figuring out how to do it better the next time.
I started from the absolute bottom. In 2013, I was at Millis Development as a 'world-class shovel operator.' I was pushing dirt and picking up trash, but I knew I wanted to be more than a gopher. I moved into earthwork and drainage, where I had 30 days to teach myself Spanish just to keep my job, and eventually worked my way up to Concrete Foreman and General Superintendent. Since then, I’ve held Project Management and Estimating roles at Junction, Texas Wall, and Anchor Construction before landing here at B&D.
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