Doing the work that builds reputations.
Ours, and yours.
Who We Are
Hopkins Construction & Excavation was founded on a simple belief: that integrity, transparency, and ownership aren't just words — they're the standard every project deserves. We built this company around that belief, and it shapes everything we do from the first conversation to final closeout.
We are a civil, commercial, and residential site work contractor based in Bozeman, Montana. We self-perform our work with owned equipment and experienced crews — no layers of subcontractors, no surprises on who shows up to your job site. The people you meet when you hire HCE are the people who do the work.
What sets us apart isn't any single thing — it's the combination. Deep field experience paired with transparent communication. Creative problem-solving paired with consistent production. A crew that takes ownership of the work paired with a business operation built to support them. That combination is rare in this industry, and it's what we hold ourselves to on every project we take on.
Cullan Hopkins
Owner, Project Lead
Cullan grew up in a family that built things - four generations deep in gravel, ready-mix concrete, and excavation. That background gave him an instinct for the work that goes beyond experience - it's how he reads a job site, how he thinks through a problem, and how he holds his crew to a standard that was set long before Hopkins Construction and Excavation existed.
He has spent over a decade running excavation and civil construction work across Southwest Montana — from complex residential site prep to large-scale civil infrastructure — and brings deep knowledge of regional soil conditions, project demands, and the relationships that serious work in this valley requires. He is known for finding creative solutions that save clients time and money without compromising quality or schedule.
Cullan leads all field operations at Hopkins Construction and Excavation — estimating, crew leadership, equipment management, and project execution. He runs open, well-organized job sites and holds every project to the same standard of care regardless of scale. That approach has defined his career in this valley, and it's the foundation HCE is built on.
Our Leadership
Jake Abel
Co-Owner, Business Operations
Jake's background is in operations — the kind where precision matters and the cost of a mistake is measured in more than dollars. He spent seven years in the Air Force Reserves managing munitions control, the operational nerve center responsible for the accountability and deployment of munitions and missiles. That environment instilled a standard for documentation, accountability, and operational discipline that has followed him into every role since.
At Delta Air Lines, Jake led operations within one of the largest marketing organizations in the airline industry — managing strategy, budgets, and large-scale execution that required both analytical rigor and sound decision-making under pressure. He left in 2025 to build something of his own alongside Cullan.
At Hopkins Construction and Excavation, Jake oversees finance, contracts, HR, insurance, and strategic planning — everything that happens off the job site. He built internal systems from the ground up with the same standard he learned in the military: structured where it matters, lean where it doesn't. His role ensures the business behind the field runs as well as the field itself — so nothing administrative ever slows down the work.
What We Stand For
Integrity Above All
We do what we say we're going to do - on schedule, on budget, and to the standard we committed to. When something isn't right, we say so. When something goes wrong, we own it.
Collaborative by Nature
The best outcomes happen when contractors, developers, engineers, and GCs work together rather than in silos. We show up as a partner, not just a vendor - and we bring our field experience to the table early, where it does the most good.
Built for the Long Game
We're not chasing volume. We're building a company with a reputation worth having in Southwest Montana, with clients worth keeping, doing work worth being proud of. That long-term view shapes every decision we make.
Ownership Mentality
Every person at Hopkins Construction and Excavation is expected to treat the work as if their name is on it. That standard doesn't stop at the job site - it runs through every contract, every invoice, and every conversation we have with a client.