Mattson Construction Company

The year 2013 marks the 110-year anniversary of Mattson Construction Company (Mattson Construction). Since the beginning, Mattson Construction has successfully built a wide variety of projects, setting the standard for quality construction all over North Dakota. Mattson Construction is now under third-generation leadership and remains family-owned and -operated. Most importantly, each Mattson generation has been committed to building superior value into every project.

Mattson Construction’s commitment has made the company one of the most well-respected general contractors in the state. Mark Mattson, current president of Mattson Construction, has been a part of the company’s commitment for the last 38 years.

However, Mark wasn’t handed his current role, he had to work to earn it. “If I wanted to be respected at all, I knew I had to be the hardest working guy on any of the jobs,” recalls Mark. “When I was in high school I worked over the summer for my dad and uncle, and my brothers and sister did too.”

Mark has done a little bit of everything for his company, including shedding some blood, sweat and tears. “I did everything,” says Mark. “I started out cleaning the yard and driving a truck. I worked as a loader and scraper operator, a certified welder, a crane operator for many years then learned about carpentry and drywall. Later on I became the company safety director. I had to learn it all.” Mark adopted his can-do-will-do, hard-working attitude from his grandfather who founded the company in 1903.

Today Mattson Construction operates out of its office in Minot, N.D. The company’s team of 40 reaches an average 80-mile radius, but occasionally works up to 210 miles away. “We have some of the finest people in the industry,” explains Mark. “Their attention to detail is second to none.” Many of Mattson Construction’s employees have been with the company for over 40 years. The company’s experienced, dedicated team has led the company to over a century of success.

The team’s experience is highlighted by the company’s attention to safety. At Mattson Construction, safety is never overlooked, nor is it taken for granted. Every employee from newly hired all the way up to Mark’s position are on a random drug screening program to ensure the safety of all employees on all sites at all times. “We are the area leader in safety and are consistently striving to improve,” says Mark proudly.

Consistency is Key

“Everything we’ve ever done has been on time and budget,” shares Mark. The company offers design-build, general contracting and managing services to clients. The team at Mattson Construction believes any project deserves time, dedication and a keystone of quality.

The company believes its work speaks for itself. Each task is accomplished with flexibility and longevity. “The Mattson Construction name will be associated with your project forever,” stresses the company’s website. “We take that very seriously.”

Withstanding the test of time and the elements is critical in North Dakota. Extreme conditions present higher wear and tear on buildings than those in more moderate climates.

Mattson Construction offers crane service, lifting and concrete work all in house. The company rents loaders and bobcats, dump trucks, welders, generators and crane service from 22 tons up to an 80-ton lift capacity.

By performing the majority of work, Mattson Construction ensures a project will meet its high-quality standards. “We self-perform about 60 percent of the work on projects,” states Mark. “We subcontract out only electrical, mechanical, painting, flooring and underground aspects when needed.”

Additionally, Mattson Construction is a certified Butler Builder installer (as certified by the Butler Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of Blue Scope Steel Company). Mattson has 12 years of experience as a certified installer and satisfying a wide variety of customers.

Consistency and a variety of service make for happy clients. Larry Kotchman of the North Dakota Forest Service attests to this, thanking Mattson Construction for its work as follows:

“I would like to thank you for the excellent work the company provided to the North Dakota Forest Service during the removal of the fire tower in the Turtle Mountains. Your business was outstanding to work with during every step of the process.”

Mattson Construction’s commitment to continued professional development is highlighted by its participation with the Associated General Contractors of America. Being an active member and longtime supporter in the Building Division, four past presidents of the ND Association have hailed from Mattson Construction.

Exceeding Expectations Under Budget

Finishing a major project under budget is a rarity in the construction world, but not for Mattson Construction. The Swain Hall renovation project at Minot State University (MSU) was originally estimated to cost $13.3 million. However, Mattson Construction brought that number down to just over $10 million once it reached completion. MSU officials attribute the savings to the hard work of the Mattson Construction team.

This isn’t the first time the company has been a presence on Swain Hall site. During the remodel Mark was surprised by his findings. “We found steel beams from the original building with the company name on them,” recalls Mark. “Turns out the original was built by my grandfather in the late 1940s.”

The building desperately needed to be brought from the 1940s to the 21st century. Swain Hall will be the home of education and athletic training majors, with 11 new classrooms and a gymnasium.

Mattson Construction has a hand in hundreds of projects throughout the Minot area. According to Mark, residents from the Minot and surrounding area will say, “A trip to Minot is a visit to the legacy of Mattson Construction.”

The ever-changing economic situation has posed a significant challenge for the company in recent years. However, Mark sees expansion in the future. “We’re down from about 95 employees five years ago to about 40 at this time,” he explains. “We want to build that employee base back up over the next few years.”

Mark hopes to do so by recruiting more young people to the business. The company’s track record of consistency, and delivering projects on time and on budget, has enabled Mattson Construction Company to stand out for 110 years.