Connecting the future since 1985
Mike Cannon started Cannon Construction in 1985 as an owner-operator serving land developers, cable television companies and telephone providers in Washington and Oregon. The work has followed the clients from the Puget Sound to federal installations across the country and the Pacific, and many of the people who built those projects are still here: a majority of the workforce has more than 20 years of service.
Four decades, one chevron
The name changed once, from Cannon Construction Inc. to Cannon Companies, and blue joined the red in 2019, but the chevron has stayed. It was already framing the company name on the cake at the tenth anniversary open house in 1995.
Cannon Construction Inc.1990s to 2014
Cannon Companies2014
Thirty years2015
Since 19852018
Red and blue2019 to today
From one owner-operator to a nationwide infrastructure contractor
- 1985
Cannon Construction founded
Mike Cannon starts out as an owner-operator serving land developers, cable television companies and telephone providers in Washington and Oregon. The first contracts are with Pacific Northwest Bell and Viacom.
1988From owner-operator to employer
After three years running the work himself, Mike Cannon starts hiring crews and sets down the four values that still lead the company: Safety, Quality, Integrity and Teamwork.
1990The first shop
Cannon opens its first shop and equipment yard, on Military Road East, and a construction manager joins who goes on to serve as estimator, personnel director and general manager.
1993The office grows with the field
Cannon brings its accounting in house with a full-charge bookkeeper who goes on to lead the company's accounting for more than two decades.
1995Ten years and an open house
Cannon marks its tenth anniversary with an open house at the shop, joins the AGC Safety Team, establishes the inside plant division and wins its first Pierce County Golden Shovel award.
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1997A safety record begins
A year after a second Golden Shovel award, crews start a run of hours worked without a time-loss accident that is still unbroken six years later.
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2000120 employees
Crews are at work from the Puget Sound to Guam, with 23 backhoes and more than 150 pieces of support equipment behind them.
2003400,000 hours, zero accidents
The time-loss-free run passes 400,000 hours, the AGC recognizes a zero-accident year, and General Dynamics names Cannon a teaming partner.
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2005Recognized as an employer
The Puget Sound Business Examiner ranks Cannon second among its Top Places to Work, Centennial Contractors recognizes its safety standards, and government contracts for outside and inside plant work grow.
2006Schenck Communications acquired
The acquisition of Schenck Communications, in the telecommunications business since 1983, adds operations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Oklahoma.
2007Six federal projects at once
Vandenberg, Edwards and Beale Air Force Bases, Fort Huachuca, the IRS in Denver and Andersen Air Force Base on Guam are all under way at the same time, with 130 employees.
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2009Alaska and Hawaii
Crews build fiber backbones at Fort Greely and Fort Richardson in Alaska, and work begins at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.
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2011Base-wide programs nationwide
Fort Jackson, Fort Bliss, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Kwajalein Atoll, each an end-to-end upgrade from survey through cutover.
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2013Fort Campbell and Fort Shafter
Base telecommunications work reaches Fort Campbell on the Kentucky and Tennessee line and Fort Shafter in Hawaii.
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2014Williston and Cannon Companies
Cannon opens a presence in the Bakken at Williston, North Dakota, and begins working under the Cannon Companies name.
2015Thirty years
Cannon marks thirty years with its fourth Golden Shovel award and Safety Subcontractor of the Year from Pacific NICC JV.
2016Power and joint use
The Seattle City Light joint use program begins; Cannon now works the line from the fiber strand to the 115kV structure.
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2017Comcast master service agreement
Comcast begins running its Washington plant construction through Cannon under a master service agreement, renewed ever since.
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2019Storm response
Cannon starts answering storm and emergency releases for utilities, alongside a Seattle City Light pole replacement program that has since covered 1,697 poles.
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2020Bristol Bay Industrial
Cannon joins the Bristol Bay Industrial family of companies.
2022Drilling on the West Coast
Directional drilling crews take on river and bay crossings in California and Oregon, from Antioch and Alameda to Roseburg.
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2024Under rivers and hills
Rigs drill beneath the Wishkah River at Aberdeen, under Beacon Hill in Seattle and for a water project at Cannon Beach, Oregon.
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2026300+ employees
From eight offices in Washington, Arizona, California and Utah, with 600+ pieces of owned equipment, crews work on installations nationwide and across the Pacific.
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Recognized by the people who inspect the work
- 5xGolden Shovel AwardPierce County Utility Coordinating Council, for an outstanding record with utility owners and full compliance with the 811 locate law
- AGCSafety and Risk Management ExcellenceAssociated General Contractors, including a zero-accident year after more than 400,000 hours without a time-loss accident
- #1Safety Subcontractor of the YearPacific NICC JV, LLC
- ✓Outstanding Safety StandardsCentennial Contractors
- ★Patriot AwardEmployer Support of the Guard and Reserve, for standing behind employees who serve
- #2Top Places to WorkPuget Sound Business Examiner
In their words
"Their workmanship has been exemplary in both the installation and the cleanup of the sites. They have always completed the projects with little supervision and have been on budget."
Public Works Department, Steilacoom, WA
"Mr. Cannon and his organization have given Fort Lewis and the Government nothing but the highest caliber product. To this date he and his company have met or exceeded the standards set forth in all of the contracts issued to them."
Department of the Army
"I have found Cannon to be one of the most professional, courteous, and knowledgeable in all aspects of the work they have completed for us."
AboveNet, Inc.
Write the next chapter with Cannon
Owners and carriers, start on the contact page. Subcontractors, see how to prequalify. Craft and professional candidates, see open positions.