Q&A with Matt Greene, CEO of MAVericks Construction
Veteran-owned MAVericks Construction has been meeting Colorado Springs’ demand for quality construction and repair since 2017. The organization focuses on minor construction, repair, maintenance, and remodeling services for residential, commercial, and government markets.
We sat down with owner and founder Matt Greene, a 23-year Air Force veteran, to discuss his passion for employing transitioning service members, providing quality construction services, and the benefits of doing business in the Pikes Peak region.
Q. What factors contributed to your decision to start MAVericks in Colorado Springs? What role has the City of Colorado Springs played in MAVericks Construction’s growth and success?
From its origin, my business concept has always involved a focus on military veterans, so I needed a sizeable veteran demographic to make it work. Is there another city in America with five military installations and a thriving small business ecosystem, which also happens to be an outdoor person’s dream? I didn’t find one so when the time came for me to retire from the Air Force, Colorado Springs seemed like the obvious choice.
This choice has proven to be the right one. The overlapping resources available here for veterans and entrepreneurs are incredible. From research and planning to business launch and now growth, MAVericks Construction has benefitted tremendously from the training, mentorship, and practical support offered by the variety of local organizations serving our veteran and small business communities. Just to name a few:
- COS Chamber & EDC
- Small Business Development Center
- SCORE
- PTAC (now Apex Accelerator)
- Mt. Carmel Veteran Service Center
- Veteran Business Outreach Center
Q. How is MAVericks’ work benefitting and contributing to the veteran community in Colorado Springs? Can you describe MAVericks’ connection to the veteran community in Colorado Springs?
While we want to expand this list soon, MAVericks Construction currently assists the local veteran community in the following ways:
- Hiring preference for veterans and their family members (now hiring carpenters!)
- Prioritizing Veteran-Owned Small Businesses as subcontractors, suppliers, or vendors
- Supporting local veteran service organizations and veteran-focused non-profits
- Providing informal transition assistance and career coaching to veterans
- Offering construction internships to separating service members via DoD Skillbridge
In a very small way, MAVericks is helping to bridge the gap between the veteran community and the construction industry here in Colorado Springs — because both have a problem. Thousands of veterans are struggling to rejoin civilian life in a healthy way, and the construction workforce desperately needs a boost of new talent. As such, MAVericks Construction wants to be a resource for both the military installations and non-profit organizations that are providing transition assistance to our veterans, as well as to our quality contractors, construction-related companies, and other potential employers doing business in this great city.
Q. What facet of your role as CEO do you find most meaningful?
Service is my primary motivator, so helping others is what I find most meaningful. I’m driven to pour my heart and soul into the growth of MAVericks Construction so we can increase our holistic impact on employees, clients, subcontractors, and the veteran community here in Colorado Springs. Serving others is how I was raised, is fundamental to my faith, is why I joined the military — and it’s hard to have a bad day when you’re helping someone that needs it.
Q. What advice would you give to former veterans looking to start their own business?
Seek wise counsel! Use the phenomenal resources available in this city, like those I mentioned earlier. Find someone who has already walked a path similar to the one you want to travel, someone who is willing to share the good, the bad, and the ugly.
After years of being told what to wear, where to go, and what to do while serving in the military, being your own boss may sound very appealing. Many of the skills learned in the military can, indeed, help one be a successful business owner. Before making any costly commitments, however, please do yourself and your family a favor by seriously considering the downsides. I would not trade my entrepreneurial experience for the world, but it can be a bumpy ride!