Building Client Relationships is Matt Holley’s Mission
In the eight months since Matt Holley joined Castle as business development manager, he’s learned just how strong Castle’s reputation is within the St. Louis construction industry.
“I can't tell you how many times I meet somebody, and they can't say enough good things about our team,” he says. “Just saying the name ‘Castle,’ you get this immediate positive response.”
Those opinions are an accurate reflection of what Holley has experienced first-hand as an employee. “Everybody here is extremely knowledgeable, thorough and good at what they do,” he says. “I couldn't ask for an organization with a better reputation for not only quality, but also safety and everything else that goes along with being a successful self-performance contractor.”
Born in Fairfield, California, Holley grew up in St. Louis and earned a construction management degree from Missouri State University in Springfield. “I never wanted to be the type who was cooped up in an office all day, so the construction path was attractive to me,” he says. “I also have an appreciation for the tangible product that we’re able to create, to be able to drive by and say, ‘I helped to build that.’”
Becoming A Construction Business Development Manager
Holley spent the first 12 years of his career working for a local civil contractor specializing in transportation. As a field engineer and project manager, he worked on projects that included building more than 30 miles of new high-speed rail track in Illinois for Union-Pacific Railroad.
In 2018, he transitioned into a business development role focused on building national relationships with Class 1 railway clients and the U.S. Department of Defense. “I got to do a lot of cool things and see a lot of the country,” he recalls.
Holley learned about the Castle job opening when Project Director Brian Carlson—a former coworker—reached out to him. “We got together and had a couple of beers after work one day, and he asked if I would be interested in the position.”
Though he wasn’t actively seeking a new job then, Holley threw his hat in the ring and ended up joining the Castle team in January 2022. His primary focus is on building and maintaining relationships with general contractors and mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) contractors.
“I talk with clients so I can understand where their pain points are and how we can really help them and add value,” he says.
While Holley enjoys the relationship-building activities, his favorite part of the job is having the opportunity to help shape Castle’s business strategy. “What really intrigues me about the role is thinking critically about the clients that we have and how we can position ourselves for success with them and grow our market share.”
Since coming onboard, he’s been particularly impressed with Castle’s dedication to personal and professional development. “The support system here is fantastic, which makes it so much easier for me to want to grow and challenge myself—and also to help some of the younger guys do the same,” he says. “It feels like a family here, which is great, but there's also this level of accountability and pride that everyone has in the work that they do.”
Holley lives in Kirkwood with his wife, Allison, and their three-month-old son, Sullivan. He also shares the house with two dogs: a chocolate lab and a saint bernard. “They were the kids before we had the kid, so now we’re a family of five.”
Cooking and travel top his list of hobbies. “Traveling has been a little difficult the last few years with the pandemic and my wife’s pregnancy, so we're itching to do some more traveling soon,” he says.
Holley and his extended family also enjoy spending time at a farmhouse in Hermann, Mo., that’s been in the family for generations. “We use it as a weekend retreat where we can do a little hunting, fishing and camping,” he says. “My sister and I have great memories hanging out there with our grandparents and parents. Now she's got two boys of her own, so we're excited to give our kids a place to go make some memories of their own.”
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