The staff at Columbia Pacific Construction will honor one of its founders who died earlier this year during a private celebration at their Woodland-based office on Aug. 20.
David Creagan, the founder of the company, died on May 28 at the age of 61.
Multiple executives of the company cherished their former boss’s life and the legacy he left behind.
“(Creagan was a) super hard worker,” said Columbia CEO Chad MacKay. “Relationships were very important to him. He was always doing things for other people. People mattered to him.”
MacKay said Creagan was a “big family man,” with a love for the outdoors. He spent most of his career in heavy civil construction and managed multiple other businesses like Creagan Excavation, according to MacKay. He also was fond of his race team, Bi-Polar Racing, where he raced the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in Mexico.
“For Dave, it was family, his businesses and his racing,” MacKay said. “Whatever Dave did, family did it with him, from his brothers to his uncles, his kids.”
MacKay said he became business partners with Creagan last year but knew him for about four years in all. They met through an associate who was acquainted with both of them.
“Any company comes with new challenges and new opportunities, and Dave had a great legacy of not just working hard, but being able to work smart,” he said.
MacKay said he had “big shoes to fill” when he stepped into his position of CEO. Creagan was known for being a great negotiator and businessman, so he misses the unique skills the founder brought to the table.
When he wasn’t working or running businesses, Creagan loved traveling to Mexico and grew up playing sports like baseball. He also loved camping and spending time outdoors.
Following Creagan’s death, MacKay hopes to continue his legacy.
“Growth and revenue is the prominent goal,” MacKay said. “But just maintaining efficiency and productivity and (with) people at CP, it’s not just family. People work here because they like who they work with, they like the work that they do and the challenges that come with that, so keeping that camaraderie and friendship at CP would be extremely important to continue, not just for Dave, but for the company.”
Columbia’s Project Manager Brandon Taylor also has fond memories of Creagan. They were friends for over 20 years.
“Dave was one of those guys who’s been in the area for a long time, was always a go-getter and started his own company,” Taylor said. “The guy was 90 miles an hour everywhere he went, just wanting to do more and more and more. (He) built a great company from scratch basically for his family, friends and anybody that worked for him was basically like a family member is kind of what it felt like.”
Taylor said Creagan “always had a good way to make people feel like they were family and feel like he appreciated them.”
While Creagan had his own struggles, Taylor said he always went above and beyond to help others. MacKay said the company, under Creagan’s leadership, donated a large amount of equipment, time and help to those in need.
A property Creagan owned, which was called “the compound,” featured a big shop where friends and family could bring their RVs and stay at cabins. It was a special place for Creagan who always wanted to be surrounded by his loved ones and friends.
Similar to MacKay, Taylor met Creagan through a mutual friend.
“I started working out for him as a laborer and just kind of got to know him through work basically. But in that time, over the last 20 years, I got to know him so well that he was like a grandpa to my kids and just always there,” Taylor said. “(He) always wanted to be a part of everybody’s life and make them feel like they’re a big part of his.”
Besides helping his friends and family, Taylor said Creagan would also buy boxes of chicken dinners during the holidays to give to the homeless located under bridges in Portland.
