Matt Hillstrom

Owner, President, Project Executive

Whether it’s his love of adventure sports or his role as the eldest sibling, Matt is a quick thinker and a skilled executor. His natural ability to assess situations, craft clear plans, and guide them to successful completion has become a hallmark of his leadership style. Though Matt may seem unassuming at first, his strength as a leader shines in the face of complex challenges.

As a fourth-generation owner of Efraim Carlson, Matt upholds the enduring values of quality, integrity, and leadership instilled by his great-grandfather, Efraim. His path within the company began in carpentry, where he trained under his father, Dave, and former superintendent Chuck, both widely respected figures in the industry. By 2007, Matt had advanced to Project Manager and gained valuable business experience outside ECC, preparing him for his future leadership role. In 2021, he proudly took on the role of President of Efraim Carlson Construction.

Today, Matt, along with his brother Spencer, guides the company’s vision, mission, core values, and strategic direction. As President and Owner, he oversees day-to-day operations and, as Project Executive, focuses on building trusted client relationships and supervising project outcomes. Clients appreciate the direct access to an owner and value Matt’s responsive, knowledgeable approach, which combines expertise, construction acumen, and accountability.

Matt’s roots in construction run deep, beginning with childhood memories of watching his grandfather and father foster strong partnerships and manage project sites. One memory he recalls fondly is his dad building an extension to his grade school church, filling Matt with pride as he watched the transformation each day. By age 12, he was helping out on job sites, developing the strong work ethic that has defined his family for generations.

“I saw the pride and joy my dad and grandpa took in caring for people and delivering quality work. I knew I wanted that for myself, too.”

Beyond his career, Matt is raising the next generation of Efraim Carlson with his two young sons, who already talk about construction and share his pride in ECC. Together, they bond over snow and water skiing, hockey, mountain biking, hiking, camping, and time spent enjoying the great outdoors.