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Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 26, 2026 (Lakeside) – If you’ve driven a car in San Diego County, you've literally been on top of things with the Hazard Construction Company.
From the winding, scenic roads of Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar to the massive, multi-lane interchanges of Interstate 8, the Lakeside-headquartered firm has spent a century literally laying the foundation for San Diego and Southern California's growth and expansion.
This June, Hazard officially hits the 100-year mark -- a rare centennial milestone that cements Hazard as one of the oldest and most influential civil engineering contractors in the state.
Hazard Construction Company started small in 1926 when it concentrated on road construction and excavation, but has evolved into a full-service general engineering contracting firm with a focus on private sector work.
Today the company performs and manages commercial site development, residential subdivisions, golf course construction and public sector projects throughout Southern California.
Earlier this month, Hazard helped light up Point Loma with a new gateway sign on Rosecrans Street near Liberty Station. The company is currently working on a Gateway Sign along Interstate 5 for San Ysidro. Closer to home, last year Hazard worked on the full runway rehabilitation project at Gillespie Field. It also has a current job order contract for improvments at Lake Murray.
On March 20, the company held a party for employees and partners at its headquarters on Vine Street, complete with a "100 years" cake and more than 100 cookies individually frosted and decorated with the company's name on it, catered food and drinks, live music, axe throwing and even a miniature golf course in the parking lot.
Photo, right: Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst, CFO Noli Gavino and Vice President of Operations Mark Thunder cut the 100th anniversary cake during Hazard's celebration on March 20 at the company's Lakeside headquarters.
Some constructive background
Founded in 1926 by Roscoe Elwood “Pappy” Hazard, the company began as a modest excavation entity in downtown San Diego. In the decades that followed, Hazard’s work was seen on every major artery of the city.
Some locals might associate the name with shopping mall Hazard Center in Mission Valley (which was sold to Los Angeles-based BH Properties in 2024 and is now officially known as The Landing at HZRD), which was once the site of the company’s brickyard.
But in 2019, under the vision of Hazard President Jason Mordhorst, the company moved its headquarters from the Miramar area where it had been since 1985, to just off state Route 67 in Lakeside.
It wasn't just a strategic business move; it was a homecoming for many. Mordhorst said the move to East County was intentional --- a large number of employees live there.
Facilities Manager David Prescott, a 37-year veteran of the firm, said, "Well, we got here sort of accidentally, but we came here with a full commitment to be part of the neighborhood and part of the community."
Prescott notes that the move synchronized perfectly with the Associated General Contractors San Diego Chapter's move to Lakeside around the same time, creating a hub for industry talent.
Left: An old photograph showing work in 1926 by Hazard Construction employees on Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach hangs inside the company's headquarters."Our apprentices are able to go to AGC to train just down the street on Riverford Road," Prescott said.
While the Hazard name is a familiar sight on the company's trucks, another family also played a big role in the company's growth -- the Millers.
The Hazard-Miller connection began in 1936 with Raymond Miller. The story shared by Hazard brass is that Miller was prevented from enlisting in World War II because he had polio in childhood. Raymond Miller instead served the commnity on the home front, hand-digging sewer trenches in Pacific Beach to build the infrastructure the growing region needed.
Eventually, five of Raymond Miller his brothers -- Ernie, Harvey, Clarence, Everett and Earl -- joined him. A second generation, Steve and Larry Miller, each dedicated more than four decades to the firm.
Hazard by the numbers and into the future
To visualize the scale of Hazard’s impact, some of the milestones the company shares are:
More than 10,000 miles total of roadway paved -- enough to drive from San Diego to New York City and back... twice.
10 Million tons of asphalt placed across the region since 1926.
4 major corridors connected as Hazard crews shaped Interstates 5, 8, 15 and 805.
The company has grown to 175 employees.
Right: The front welcome area of the company's headquarters in Lakeside.
For the team today, the work is about more than just roads and landmarks, it's also about company connections.
CFO Emmanuel (Noli) Gavino joined the firm in 2008, and says he was initially drawn to the company by the weight of the Hazard's history, then motivated to stay because of the company's collaborative heart.
"I wasn't looking for a job, but when I saw all the history of Hazard, I was so impressed," Gavino says. "And when you see what we've helped build... the bridge at Petco Park, the CBX (Cross Border Express) Bridge... when you see those things and what it means to San Diego, we all take such pride in it."
Gavino credits the company’s financial strength and organic growth to a collaborative culture led by Mordhorst and Executive Vice President Bill Rogers, who began his career with Hazard in 1983.
Hazard Construction is privately owned by senior leadership, so its clients interact directly with decision-makers from start to finish, the company's website notes, and adds: "We value long-term relationships and bring a personalized approach to every partnership."
Although the company is private and Gavino could not share financial data, according to Zoominfo, Hazard brings in roughly $31.4 million in annual revenue.
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