July 2019: Ireland-Robinson & Hadley Inc.

Larry Hadley started to work for Ireland-Robinson & Hadley Inc. in 1973 and, in 1974, when he bought the premier construction business from his father, he was committed to continue and uphold the company’s exceptional workmanship and high quality of service. And he has kept that promise for the past 25 years.


So, last year, when he began to think about retiring, he asked his nephew, Jeffery Hadley, if he would be interested in shadowing him and then taking over the helm in five years or so.

At that time, Jeff, a 2016 Cal Poly graduate in construction management, was working for a commercial construction company in San Luis Obispo. He came on board in August 2018 as general manager of Ireland-Robinson & Hadley Inc.

“I really love construction,” Jeff says, adding jokingly that his father always called the family’s tendency for construction a genetic disorder. “There’s something about building somebody’s dream house – a personal aspect about it, a feeling of accomplishment knowing that their family will enjoy the home for years to come,” he says.


Jeff holds the same commitment of excellence as his Uncle Larry. He agrees it’s important to take care of your clients long-term, to stand by your work and to correct any mistakes immediately.

He also believes in giving back to the community. Not long ago, he called the chamber to learn what he could do to help, and Chamber Director DeAnn Biss suggested he contact the Landmarks Society. He learned that they needed a general spring cleanup at the Art & Garden Center, so Jeff, eight of his fellow

employees along with other Landmarks volunteers spent a half-day moving a fence, trimming trees and sprucing up the yard in a major cleanup.

“Our employees want to work here,” Larry says. “They all are polite, know-how to communicate and have good personalities as well as being masters in their fields.” For instance, all of the company’s carpenters go through a four-year apprenticeship program and, once a journeyman, they have the option to continue their education with advanced training.

“Our clients trust us to take care of their homes as they would do it themselves,” Larry says. “For instance, one woman had to run an errand and asked the Hadley employee if he would babysit for 20-minutes. Others have us check on their homes regularly or have packages delivered to our office while they’re out-of- town.”

The Belvedere based company has been deeply involved in the Tiburon Peninsula community since it first opened in 1953. A few of its pro bono projects have been to install all the historical signs across Belvedere and Tiburon; donate the labor to build the Belvedere Park gazebo, the Bob Gordon playhouse and all the labor to build the Belvedere playground; volunteer days with the Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Society; and an annual donation of $1,000 to the Belvedere Concerts in the Park.

Larry’s motto is, “I believe you get back what you put into your community.” Jeff says, “This is really cool for me. It’s a great legacy to come into.”