Non-Member Awardee

THOMAS DOBSON was born in Glasgow, Scotland on February 18, 1943.  After graduating from high school in 1961, he went to work for the Road Research Laboratory in Scotland, taking part in a variety of pavement design experiments.  During this period, he attended Paisley Technical College on a part-time basis, earning his Higher National Certificate in Civil Engineering with specialties in Geology and Soil Mechanics.

In 1966, Tom joined Keller in the UK as a site engineer, first in the Geotechnical Department, then moving to the Ground Improvement Division and later to the position of Grouting Contracts Manager.

In 1975, he was transferred to Canada as  President of Keller Canada.  Major projects during this period included work at James Bay in Quebec, ground improvement projects in the Frasier River Delta in British Columbia and water front projects in Vancouver. 

In 1981, Keller made a strategic decision to enter the U.S. market. Tom established headquarters in Tampa, Florida. 

In 1984, the opportunity arose to acquire Hayward Baker, Inc., a leading U.S. specialty grouting contractor, based in Maryland.  This acquisition proved to be the catalyst for the growth of the combined operations, with Haywood Baker becoming the operating company, while Keller became a U.S. Holding Company.  Major projects during this period included Vibro Stone Column jobs at the Savannah River plant in South Carolina and Kings Bay Naval Air Base in Georgia; work on the L.A. Metro system;  and tunneling projects in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle.

In 1994, Tom was instrumental in the acquisition of Case Foundation Company, a Chicago based caisson and slurry numerous major projects in the U.S.    In 1995, Tom returned to the UK to become CEO of the parent company, a publicly traded company listed on the London Stock market. While working in London, he maintained his residence in the U.S. and served as Chairman of both Haywood Baker and Case Foundation. He directed Keller’s expansion beyond Germany into France, Spain, Italy and Sweden.  He also led the company into Australia, where it became the leading foundation company.

He retired as CEO of the Keller Group in 2004, but continued as an advisor to its U.S. operations through the end of 2008.  Tom is now living in South Carolina with his wife, Gillian, where he is a keen golfer and Board Member of the Colleton River Plantation Club.