Matt Heslin is the owner of Heslin Construction and we want you to get to know him. There’s more to Matt than being the head of an established custom home building company. He’s a Tahoe-Truckee business owner with a flair for life and a deep investment in his family. Read below and get to know Matt Heslin and how he came to build Heslin Construction.
Where did you grow up and how did you end up in California?
I grew up in Connecticut and decided to head west for college to get a taste of a different part of the country. I went to Colorado State in Fort Collins. I really loved Colorado but felt compelled to head farther West so I moved to San Francisco after school.
Once in San Francisco, how did you get into the building industry?
I’ve been handy all my life and had experience growing up training as a carpenter. Once in SF, I took a job with a high-end remodeling company. We took 20th century homes and buildings in the Marina District and translated them into modern homes showcasing current styles and standards. It was very inspiring, pushing the limits of architectural restoration. There was a lot of creativity at work- fun material choices and problem solving while bringing the homes up to code.
How did Heslin Construction come to be a reality?
I lived in SF for 2 years and during that time I came to realize I’m more of a mountain person than a city guy. Once I moved to Tahoe, I took a job as a framer. It sounds basic but it was great. I loved the hands on nature of the job and it was very rewarding. At the end of every day there is always visible, measurable progress, especially with new construction. It was actually while I was a framer I developed my aspirations to be in business for myself. In 2004, I got my General Contractor’s license and then worked very hard to establish my business. Heslin Construction has worked on several types of projects from remodels to new construction. From this we tuned our approach and found our niche in the Tahoe-Truckee area.
What’s your favorite part of your job now?
I love the role of overseer. I get to be a part of the really creative aspects of each project and guide the building team in the details of fulfilling the vision. I like collaborating with the clients, the architects and the interior designers and then translating the inspiration, with my team, into an amazing finished product. There are lots of opportunities to implement original, creative ideas. I really enjoy working with my people to be a successful team. Take a look at some of my favorite homes from our gallery: Homesite 100: Custom home in Martis Camp, Homesite 243: Luxury Home in Martis Camp, Homesite 62: Modern guest house in Martis Camp.
When you’re not working hard, what are you up to?
I cherish the time with my wife and 2 daughters. We really enjoy lake time: boating and paddle boarding. My 6 year old even has her own paddleboard. We do a lot of camping as a family and generally try to get outdoors year round. In the warmer months I do a lot of biking and with the snow fall we head to the ski hill in our free time. I enjoy snowboarding and telemarking with my kids. It’s definitely not lost on my girls that I work a lot but I want to be an example for them. I want them to realize that even if you work hard you need to make time to have fun with the ones you love. I show them how hard work and perseverance can pay off and give you a lot of self-fulfillment.