James C. “Jim” Maxwell, who led innovation in deep foundation construction while growing a family-owned contracting business into a sector leader in the northeast U.S., died July 25 after battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, for about five years. He was 76.

Maxwell was chair of Chelmsford, Mass.-based Hub Foundation Co. Inc. His father, Francis, founded the pile driving contractor in 1966, and he took over in 1981—leading company growth from 10 full-time employees to 120 today.