Matt Lasley – From Calculations to Concrete to Civil Construction
Seattle-born and raised, Matt Lasley’s natural aptitude for math led him to a career in construction. His passion for the subject didn’t just steer him toward the industry; it also brought him to Southern California.
Like many college students, Lasley chose his major by focusing on the subjects he excelled in. His proficiency in mathematics made Civil Engineering an easy choice. Graduates with this degree often find themselves in one of two fields: construction design or construction management. Lasley was fortunate to explore both paths through internships before deciding which suited him best.
During college, he had an internship at a design firm in Los Angeles, California. Initially optimistic, he quickly grew disillusioned due to the isolation, saying, “No one talked to me for all 8 hours of my day.” After reconnecting with his professors, they arranged another internship, this time in the construction sector. The experience was a game-changer: fast-paced, social, and, as Lasley put it, “awesome.”
Upon graduation, Lasley’s university connected him with McCarthy Building Companies Inc. for an interview, and he landed a job just a few weeks later.
Solid Foundations: Self-Perform Concrete Team
Lasley joined the McCarthy self-perform concrete team after graduation. Reflecting on this experience, he said, “Getting to work on the concrete team was a really great experience and my first exposure to working in self-perform. Running the work has a lot of responsibility to ensure the information is correct; it's very similar to how Castle operates.”
Lasley spent about two years as a project engineer on a Cal State University Los Angeles project, gaining valuable exposure to the GC side of McCarthy jobs. The project wrapped up in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning, leading to a slowdown in new projects. Around that time, Lasley received a call to join Castle, a sibling company to McCarthy. His experience with the self-perform concrete team and his knowledge of underground utilities and earthwork made him an ideal candidate.
Lasley recalls with enthusiasm, “I had enjoyed the self-perform work I did with McCarthy and was excited for the new opportunity at Castle!”
Career with Castle
Lasley quickly advanced at Castle and was promoted to Project Manager in December 2023. He is now fully embracing this new role.
“I love this niche side of self-perform because you’re surrounded by so many good people. You can approach everything with an open mind and there is always something new to take away from the experience. You're learning every single day” Lasley passionately explains.
He continues, “One of the coolest things about construction is our people. Having a position onsite where I get to work right next to our craft workers gives you a different experience than working out of the office. Our craft workers are true experts, incredibly smart and talented people. We all have
our contributions to the work we do and getting to share my day with so many talented people is something I’m really grateful for.”
“I’ve made some really good friends here at Castle and McCarthy, both from the office and the field,” Lasley shares. “One of the things I love to do afterwork is play pickleball. A group of us have started playing together after work. The more we go, the more people who have started to join us! It’s super-fast-paced, but so much fun!”
