J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) is proud to announce that it has been Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for the ninth consecutive year. This recognition reflects Brennan’s long-standing commitment to fostering a culture where employees feel safe, valued, supported, and empowered.

This year’s certification marks a milestone, with 113 more employees participating in the survey than ever before. With over 80% of team members responding, results showed that 87% of employees agree Brennan is a Great Place To Work, a score 30 points higher than the average US company.

Coordination, Innovation, and Respect for the Environment

At the heart of Duluth, Minnesota—near Lake Superior—Brennan led a large-scale environmental remediation project at Munger Landing, removing historical contamination from over 34 acres of the St. Louis River. This multi-year effort addressed legacy pollutants including PCBs, mercury, dioxins, and furans through precision hydraulic dredging, sediment dewatering, water treatment, and the strategic placement of clean sand and habitat materials.

"The scale and scope of this project demanded constant coordination, innovation, and respect for the environment," says Project Manager Casey Evenson

Refinery Wastewater Pond Cleanup with Remote Dredging

We recently completed the cleanup of two wastewater ponds for a large producer of transportation fuels. Using a remotely controlled dredge, Brennan removed wastewater sludge from impoundments on the refinery site and dewatered the material with six 2-meter belt filter presses. The remotely controlled dredge added a layer of safety to the project, preventing any health risks that a Leverman might face if exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas released during the dredging process.

Milestone Achievement in Quality, Environmental, and Safety Standards

We are proud to announce that our corporate offices in North Kingstown, RI, and Ottawa, IL, have been officially certified under ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management) Systems standards. This certification extension ensures that our customers nationwide will continue to experience the same exceptional service, quality, and craftsmanship synonymous with Brennan. It also marks a significant step forward in our growth into submarine cable, offshore wind, and renewable energy projects along the coast.

The Third Ward Milwaukee River remediation project is a pivotal step in cleaning up the Milwaukee River. It targets the site of a decommissioned manufactured gas plant that once operated in the area. 

A Collaborative Effort to Clean Milwaukee's River

Brennan was selected as the prime contractor for this ambitious project, tasked with dredging contaminated sediments and treating water to restore the river's health. Working closely with GEI Consultants, Inc. (GEI), the project’s design engineers, Brennan is delivering comprehensive solutions that combine environmental restoration, water treatment, and marine construction expertise.

J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) is proud to announce that it has been recertified as a Great Place To Work® for the eighth consecutive year. 89% of employees affirm the company as a great workplace, a 2% increase from last year’s 87%, underscoring Brennan's commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.

Over 80% of Brennan employees participated in the Great Place to Work third-party survey, providing valuable feedback highlighting the company’s ongoing dedication to its team. The survey revealed strong results across several key areas, including justice, corporate image, and camaraderie, which have been central to Brennan’s success.

Brennan embarked on a vital restoration project for the middle section of the Lake George Canal. The primary goal was to protect aquatic organisms by separating them from contaminated sediment through a multi-layer sediment cap.

Initial Site Challenges

Hydrographic surveys revealed areas of varying slope and stability as the first layer of cap material was placed over the canal bottom. These issues were attributed to soft underlying sediment within the canal footprint. The success of this project hinged on effective collaboration between Brennan and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to address these types of challenges.

With the president of a leading cruise line committing to going green, offering shore power became essential for places like Pier 66. The purpose? For cruise ships to switch off their engines while docking and use electricity instead, conserving fuel and reducing emissions. This change would lead to cleaner air for Seattle and other ports adopting the same practice.

Procuring a Power Source for Pier 66

Pier 66 lacked a power source at that time, so the Port of Seattle began procuring one. The solution involved laying submarine cable on the seabed alongside Seattle's shore, linking Pier 66 to renewable energy from Seattle City Light. Here's how we did it.

We're at Minnesota Power's hydroelectric dam in Scanlon, Minnesota, to replace 7 of the structure's Tainter gates. Extending the life of this renewable energy source by 50 to 100 years, the Scanlon Dam Gate Replacement Project enables the further creation of clean, renewable power provided to local communities. 

We were pulled into the project very early on during the design phase of the project. Both Brennan and Minnesota Power attribute the project's success to early contractor involvement.

We are at the Lock and Dam 19 facility in Keokuk, Iowa, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Our team replaced an 18,000-LB, 105-FT underwater soundbar with wet-mateable connections (cables and speakers that can be connected and disconnected underwater). This underwater acoustic deterrent system (UADS) upgrade allows divers to replace individual speakers if underperforming rather than continuing to remove the entire system.

Why? The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is spearheading a 3-year study to reduce the number of invasive carp moving toward the Great Lakes. It is the only study on the Mississippi River evaluating a deterrent for invasive carp.