For the past year, a new business has been establishing itself in Lake Andes as a brand that builds with integrity and with customer relations at the forefront of its business ideology. That construction business is East River Builders, owned and operated by Matt Lehman. When asked how he came up with the name for the construction business, Matt said that he wanted a simple name to describe the services that the company provides.

What brought the Lehman family to Lake Andes from Illinois originally was visiting friends in the area. Matt, his wife, Edna, and son, Bryson, fell in love with the area and town, enough so that they decided to relocate. In May of 2024, the Lehman’s became residents of Lake Andes. A month after their relocation in June 2024, their business, the East River Builders, was officially established.

Matt has been in the construction trade for the past nine years. He knew that construction was a strength of his; as a result, right out of high school he began pursing more knowledge and hands on training in the field. Before beginning his own company in Lake Andes, he had always worked for someone else, which meant working under someone else’s reputation which was not always well-respected. Matt wanted something different. He wanted to create a reputable brand that is known for its honesty and service with integrity. He wanted his customers to know that even the smallest details that were not noticeable were done correctly and to his high standards. In order to help Matt complete his construction projects, he hired two local men who also have the same work ethic, Lucas Byler and Alex Waldner, as his current crew.

East River Builders offers services in new construction of homes and garages; remodeling; siding and gutters; and exterior home improvements. The company does feel that they specialize more in new construction. Matt’s favorite service is the framing of a new home; he enjoys being able to construct the home from its very start.

When asked what made Matt want to create this business in Lake Andes, instead of anywhere else is that he likes the people in Lake Andes. They are what brought he and his family to Lake Andes in the first place. The business is definitely customer focused as customer relations and making people happy are the aspects of being a business owner in Lake Andes that Matt is enjoying the most.

Currently the business is run out of his home at 58 N 7th Ave. His business hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. The business does have an active Facebook page (East River Builders) that allows customers to connect with Matt on messenger or they can call his cell phone 605-481-9632 in order to contact him. Matt is well aware that some jobs may demand that he alter or extend his hours, but as a family man, he also knows that there needs to be a good home/work life balance. Just like family is important to Matt, that is one part of his business that he feels is unique. For him it is more than just a business, he is interested and invests in getting to know his customers as a whole, making the experience feel more like being a part of the family.