Metal Arts Construction
Construction companies are paving the way for new houses, structures and businesses to take root in our community. For Rachel and Matt Brownlee, construction has been a part of their lives for over twenty years. These two high school sweethearts wanted to do more than just build buildings; they wanted to be part of building a community.
Matt and Rachel took over ownership of Metal Arts Construction in 2023, but Matt has been working at the company since 2004. The company began in 1989 under Doug Cobb’s leadership, and it operated out of a rented office space in the Greenwald building. Soon, the projects began getting larger and once enough capital was raised, Doug moved into his own building, where the company still sits today as one of the oldest in the Mt. Pleasant Industrial Park. Although Doug is retired, he still often comes by the business, to “just check in on his baby.”
For Matt, taking over the business meant more than just signing documents and getting an upgraded nametag. He wanted to institute a culture of belonging, connection, and kindness among his staff, and most importantly, he wanted his employees to feel as valued as he saw them.
“The biggest thing I look for in an employee is someone who is willing to show up, learn, and be ready to work,” said Matt. “We're proud to have so many folks who have been with us for such a long time.”
This year, Metal Arts is celebrating two employees' 20-year anniversaries, out of the 25 employees they have. The company has multiple father-son pairs on their crew, with even Matt and Rachel’s own sons playing a part in the company’s daily operations.
From the Isabella Bank branch in downtown Mt. Pleasant, to Mid Michigan College, to the Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel, to the Broadway Theatre, Metal Arts has touched almost every industry in Mt. Pleasant. In addition, they have completed a project in nearly all of the K-12 buildings, which holds a special spot in Rachel’s heart as a former elementary teacher.
The Brownlee’s love to provide educational opportunities whenever they can. They have been active in the CTE programs across Gladwin, Clare, Mt. Pleasant and Alma, to educate teenagers and young adults about the careers in commercial construction, in addition to tabling at career fairs throughout the region’s high schools.
“We want to be a part of empowering the next generation of problem-solvers" said Rachel.
For generations, Metals Arts has helped build the foundation of Mt. Pleasant. From creating space for new businesses, and renovating space for long-standing institutions, to supplying jobs and work experience for our community, Metal Arts is all about making a bigger impact, one property at a time.
Learn more about Spotlight 365: https://www.mt-pleasant.net/spotlight-365