Dependable Construction Co., Inc. residential septic work site in Southern New Hampshire

Our Team

Meet the Team

For Dependable Construction, being a family business means more than sharing a name. It means taking personal responsibility for the work we do and being there when our customers have questions. Meet the people bringing generations of experience, local knowledge, and a hands-on approach to septic services throughout Southern New Hampshire.

Michelle Ashford

Septic Consultant

For more than 20 years, Michelle Ashford has helped New Hampshire homeowners navigate septic projects with a straightforward philosophy: no question is too small. From the first phone call through the completion of a project, Michelle takes the time to explain the process, answer questions, and make what can seem complicated feel much more manageable.

Her experience goes well beyond customer service. Michelle has drawn nearly 650 septic system designs and has helped answer hundreds of questions involving septic systems, property requirements, and the rules that govern them. Over the years, she has also worked with local town officials and stayed in communication with New Hampshire state officials to help customers understand what is—and isn't—permitted under current requirements.

What Michelle values most is being someone customers can rely on for a clear answer. And when the answer isn't immediately clear, she's comfortable saying, “I'm not sure, but I'll find out.” She believes getting the right information is more important than giving a quick answer.

For Michelle, that approach reflects what being part of a family business is all about. Dependable Construction has served the community since 1971, and her goal is for every customer to finish that first conversation feeling more at ease and confident that they've found the right people to help with their septic needs.

Charles “Chuck” Ashford Jr.

Owner & Septic Professional

Charles Ashford Jr.—but just about everyone knows him as Chuck—proudly carries on the family business started by his father, Chuck Sr. After watching his father build and run Dependable Construction for 42 years, Chuck took over the business with a commitment to keeping the same values at its core: honesty, integrity, hard work, and standing behind the work you put your name on.

Chuck is a hands-on owner who believes in getting to know the people he's working for. He meets personally with customers, takes the time to answer their questions, and makes sure they understand what to expect before a project begins. For Chuck, it's important that homeowners feel comfortable not only with the work being done, but with the person they've trusted to do it.

That relationship doesn't end when the job is finished. Chuck makes sure customers understand how to properly care for their new septic system and know they can call if a question or future need comes up. From the first handshake to the last, his goal is pretty simple: do what you say you're going to do, do it right, and stand behind it when it's finished.

With more than 725 septic system installations and approximately 650 septic designs to his credit, Chuck brings decades of real, hands-on knowledge to the job. He's not an owner sitting somewhere behind a desk—he knows the work, knows the area, and takes pride in continuing a local family business that has been serving New Hampshire homeowners for generations.

Ian Ashford

Heavy Equipment Operator

Ian has been around heavy equipment for as long as he can remember. From sitting on his dad's lap in the cab of an excavator or loader as a young child, he developed an early interest in operating machinery and learning the family business.

Working summers and after school, Ian gained hands-on experience while learning that running a successful family-owned business takes dedication, hard work, and strong ethics.

At just 18 years old, Ian earned his Commercial Driver's License (CDL), further expanding his role within Dependable Construction Co., Inc.

Now 21, Ian is an important part of the team and continues learning every aspect of the business. His goal is to eventually take over the family business, maintaining the same commitment to quality workmanship and dependable service that customers have trusted for decades.

Our History

A Family Business Built on Experience

Dependable Construction has been serving New Hampshire homeowners since 1971, with the business and its values passed from one generation to the next. Today, that same commitment continues: do the work right, treat people honestly, and stand behind every job. It's a straightforward approach that has guided the family for decades—and one they intend to carry forward.