Verndell Gildhouse purchased Dillingham Construction International Inc. (DCII) and moved it to Ponca City, Oklahoma, USA. A worldwide construction firm involved in the commercial, industrial, heavy civil, and marine industries, DCII’s roots stem from The Dillingham Company, established in the Hawaiian Islands in 1865, then became Hawaiian Dredging & Construction Company in 1902, to dredge Honolulu Harbor and Pearl Harbor.
DCII officially came into existence after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, when the company became part of a 14-member consortium of construction firms building air bases on islands liberated from Japanese control. Over the years, DCII gained international recognition through projects like widening the Suez Canal, constructing a harbor in Kuwait, and undertaking various works in Australia, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the global construction industry.
In 1961, Dillingham Corporation formally expanded its operations beyond Hawaii, and the company headquarters was established in San Francisco, California to foster growth through diversification. However, this expansion eventually overextended the company and weakened its financial standing. By late 1983, a group of private investors purchased all of Dillingham Corporation’s outstanding shares, allowing it to regain its footing as a fully integrated construction entity, renamed Dillingham Construction Corporation.
In 1987, DCII secured a major road project in Western Turkey, followed by the earthquake repairs of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. These successes led to numerous other projects, including the upgrade of Los Angeles’ Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Sakara Egypt Peace Vector IV, Phase II airbase, the Suez Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the installation of 12,000 meters of sewer pipe in Egypt. Additionally, DCII was awarded contracts to build U.S. embassies in La Paz, Bolivia; Bogota, Colombia; and Singapore, as well as the General Santos City Airport on Mindanao Island, Philippines, and the retrofit of the Golden Gate Bridge. Other major undertakings included the Manapouri Second Tailrace Tunnel Project and the Los Angeles Metro Red Line.
Despite these achievements, Dillingham Construction Corporation, DCII’s parent company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to heavy financial losses from an industry slump and unprofitable projects. Though DCII was untouched by the bankruptcy, Dillingham Construction Corporation was unable to mount a defense because its funds were tied up in legal battles. General Motor’s finance group, GMAC, one of Dillingham’s largest creditors, took managerial control of the company’s profitable operations, including DCII’s projects in Turkey and elsewhere around the world. GMAC retained Verndell H. Gildhouse to oversee the completion of the Turkey project, ensuring the return of the company’s bonds. GMAC successfully settled all court cases and debts, aided by profits from DCII’s international ventures.
In September 2016, upon completion of the major road project in Turkey and the return of the bank’s bonds, Bank of America (formerly GMAC and then ALLY Finance) sold DCII to Verndell H. Gildhouse, a U.S. citizen from Ponca City, Oklahoma, and to Nihat Surgut, a Turkish businessman, making DCII the sole surviving component of the original Dillingham Corporation Holdings and Dillingham Construction Corporation.
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army-Retired, Verndell has lived in Turkey for more than 30 years. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Chicago in Near East and Turkish studies. Before becoming CEO of Dillingham Construction International Incorporated, he worked for 14 years as the business manager and Turkish country representative for DCll’s motorway project.
Sharon lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to joining DCII, she spent five years in Turkey teaching primary, middle and high school before returning to the States to study law at Florida International University in Miami. While in law school, Sharon worked for DCII’s American law firm. She now travels the world for DCII overseeing contracts and visiting jobsites.
Prior to joining DCII, Ellen retired from the US Army as a CW5 Warrant Officer with a career spanning more than 30 years as a Security and Communications expert in personnel, physical and communications security. During her long and distinguished military career, she served 15 years internationally working for NATO in the field of Crypto Security. In addition to her many, diverse security certifications, Ellen has completed a Masters of Applied Linguistics program of study.