About Matt Brackman

My father started his concrete finishing business, The Finishing Touch, in 1976. 
I can't remember when I didn't sit with him in his truck as we made the rounds to current jobs and new customers' homes. Throughout those years, as a child, I met people that I still connect with today regularly. 
In construction, we come in contact with many people. It's an incredible experience to start at that age. You "learn" people, and they see you grow up. It's a testimony of the kind of a reputation you have when you start that young, and people see you lose your dad, and then you lose your mom, and then you take over the company, and you've learned to hold to a certain standard—the standard of customers from since your dad was running the company. It feels good to get a call 10, 20, or 30 years later to do more work for them. 
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It's almost as if an entire community adopted us at times of need. The outreach happened years before when many people in the neighborhood knew our parents. Then, they still remember you when you were young, so you've got that going for you. As those connections go on and on—and that relationship keeps building. 
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Another thing about the construction business is that anybody (who isn't a shyster) is greatly valued, especially in a community like Twin Falls. These practical and down-to-earth folks recognize and appreciate others who can accomplish things.
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I think back to what it was like for me and Andrew to learn the skillset that has brought us to this point in time. And I always mentioned riding around with Dad in his work truck as a child. It started as an adventure for a young boy, spending quality time with my father, which was how it began.
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Much of what I was learning was by osmosis. I was having fun, meeting other adults, learning about the building trades, and being encouraged by my dad (and others) to learn to operate heavy equipment, work in concrete construction using heavy equipment, and work in concrete construction.
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As my siblings and I grew up, we were learning skills and values that have served us well ever since. I didn't know I was working and learning; I was having fun!
As we each grew towards high school graduation, our dad told us we could attend college if we chose, and that would be our decision. Dad went to college and left college after his third year to start his business. He also schooled us in ways that helped us to think, evaluate, persevere, communicate, appreciate, and learn.