ABOUT FREEDOM CONSTRUCTION
Woman-Owned and Family-OperatedOur Service Difference: Commercial Building Contractors Who Care
Commercial building contractors are not usually known for transparent communication, a high level of customer service, or strong relationships with their clients. At Freedom Construction, we are working to flip that narrative, and that starts with people. Our people-first team culture is built on strong moral boundaries, equitable opportunities for growth, and an atmosphere of inclusion and trust. Clients who work with our team of commercial building contractors can expect to feel seen and heard, whether contracted for Construction Management, General Contractor Services, or Owner’s Representative Services. It is a privilege to work to provide for ourselves and our families, and to dream, grow and explore at will. These liberties come with great sacrifice, and we consider it our responsibility and privilege to help protect this hard-won freedom by serving others first and investing in our communities.
Our Story: Why We Started A Construction Business
A Way of Life
Carrie Wilson spent her adolescence on a small farm in Kentucky, where her dad (tree service business owner, truck driver, and handyman) and uncle (electrical engineer for GM) would drag her out of bed on weekends and summer days for building and remodeling projects: barns, houses, campground offices, apartments, fences, and other odd jobs for neighbors and friends.
Her vocational pursuits led her into roles where she realized her knack for process improvement and passion for respect-based relationships in the workplace. She naturally found herself improving and building her way into executive leadership positions until she ultimately made the jump to starting her own company in partnership with her husband, Matt.
Matt Wilson’s passion for construction also began at a young age, helping his father and brothers—plumbers and excavators by trade—install water and sewer lines, build barns and other structures, and run equipment on their 40-acre farm.
Later on, Matt worked for his family’s business, providing property management and construction services ranging from new builds and full renovations to demolition, excavation, and concrete work—ultimately developing the foundational expertise needed to manage every part of the building process.
In Steve Huizinga’s youth, he was known primarily as the son of the founder of one of Michigan’s leading mechanical contractors. He began working in the family business at the age of 13 but deeply struggled to find his place. He found it eventually, but it came after years of stumbling through addiction and the legal system, working through sobriety and recovery, and learning to live by more sustaining principles of life: how to admit struggle and weakness, ask for help, and that true strength comes from humbling ourselves and admitting our failures.
His career in leadership grew quickly on this foundation, and his passion for building up woman- and minority-owned businesses led him to Freedom Construction, where he is committed to changing people’s lives through employment with empathy.
A Better Way of Doing Things
Carrie and Matt started Freedom Construction to fulfill a mutual passion for serving others and building a team of shared strengths. They want their clients and team members to experience what they found lacking in past work environments: a culture of integrity, operational excellence, and personal safety—both physical and psychological.
Carrie and Matt identified a shortage of high-quality commercial building contractors in an industry infamous for poor communication, cost overruns, and missed deadlines. Passionate about people-first service, Carrie and Matt knew their dedication to transparent processes and open, collaborative communication would immediately fulfill a dire need in West Michigan.
A Need in the Community
As a woman-owned business that prioritizes partnering with other woman-owned and minority-owned commercial building contractors and suppliers, Freedom Construction brings a much-needed diverse perspective and labor force to the West Michigan industry and economy. According to recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Only 9.9% of construction industry professionals nationwide are women
- 6.2% are black
- 2% are Asian
Bringing diversity to the industry isn’t just about race or gender; it’s about bringing skills and experiences honed from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Ultimately, this convergence of diverse abilities allows us to better serve all people in the community, combat unconscious bias, see around corners, catch oversights in planning, and logistically, tap into a labor force that is underutilized in the industry.
Freedom Construction forms intentional partnerships with local institutions and workforce development programs to provide training, internships, partnerships, and employment for people who may not have been afforded these privileges in the past, or for those in need of a second (or third, fourth, etc.) chance in life.
Carrie Wilson
Chief Executive Officer, Freedom Construction Board of Directors
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Carrie serves Freedom Construction as CEO, bringing with her more than a decade of experience in leadership and customer service, including her most recent role as Director of Operations for a 20-branch, 350+ employee organization. In addition to overseeing operations, she represented the employer on the Joint Labor Management Committee, participating in all labor union relations and contract negotiations.
Matt Wilson
Project Manager, Freedom Construction Board of Directors
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Matt Wilson, Freedom Construction’s Chief Operating Officer, is a licensed General Contractor with over 20 years of broad knowledge and experience in trade work and building. He began in commercial and residential construction and property management with his family, spent 7 years as a policeman and firefighter, and eventually transitioned into retail as a Sales Manager and Finance Director in the automotive and RV industries. In 2021, he decided to return to the commercial construction industry and launched Freedom Construction and Consulting, Inc. with his wife Carrie.
Steve Huizinga
President
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President Steve Huizinga is a recognized leader in both the construction industry and the diversity and inclusion space, directing over 350 employees and four subsidiaries in his previous role as president of Allied Mechanical, one of Michigan’s largest mechanical contracting firms. During his 30+ year history in commercial and industrial construction, he has also served on the board of directors for the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, West Michigan Construction Institute, and Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan—the latter of which conferred him the National Diversity Excellence Award in 2019.
“It’s easy to make decisions when you know what your values are.”– Roy Disney
Our Values
Do the Next Right Thing
At Freedom Construction, integrity comes first. That means we tell the truth, communicate with transparency, keep our word, and always do the next right thing. We partner with trade and specialty contractors who share our dedication to building with integrity and consistently choose to do what is fair – even when it’s not easy and convenient, and especially when faced with difficult decisions.
Solve Problems
The construction industry is filled with the unexpected—from supply chain interruptions to labor shortages to natural disasters—and everything in between! We believe even the most complex problems have a solution. In every building project, we reach beyond conventional thinking to find resourceful, practical, and imaginative ways to get the job done. Our focus on agility empowers us to meet adversity with tenacity and ingenuity.
Listen First
The “why” behind every project is just as important as the blueprints, so our first objective is to understand our clients’ goals, values, and concerns. We care about building bridges of partnership between generations, cultures, histories, and futures in an inclusive, service-minded atmosphere. Our clients are seen and heard.
Earn Trust
The positive relationships we seek to create with all people are based on commitment and trust. To cultivate these types of authentic connections, we honor healthy boundaries and take a posture of service, knowing we cannot truly serve others until we’ve built the mutual understanding and support it takes to work alongside – instead of across – our team members, clients, and partners.
Lead with Service
Good leadership reaches beyond positional authority and offers selfless, authentic service to others. Among our team, this means we are asking questions and acting strategically to foster growth and remove barriers so each person can succeed. We are working to build a culture of safety, trust, and transparency that flows outward to our clients and community.
We Are a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise
Freedom Construction is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today and we can add diversity to your supply chain.
