Chad Hudson Takes Texas-Built Excellence to Northwest Montana’s Finmark Construction

When I first met luxury home builder Chad Hudson almost 10 years ago in Dallas, he told me he was both a perfectionist and a planner. Perfectionists make for great home builders, and planners make for people who achieve their dreams. So it was no surprise to hear that Finmark Construction partnered with Hudson as a managing member and named him Vice President of Market Development.

“Finmark’s building reputation is second to none and their core values align with mine,” Hudson said. “It’s important to the Finmark leadership team to be the best builder in Montana, but it’s even more important to us to be the best employer and provide that work/life balance that’s prevalent in the mountains.  I’m blessed and grateful for the opportunity.”

Based in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana, Finmark is known to be one of the most sought-after mountain home builders specializing in high-end custom builds and vacation homes in Flathead County, Montana.

“Chad brings 20-plus years of professional experience in real estate investment, development, and residential and commercial construction to our team,” Finmark leadership said in a statement. “His experience, approachability, and solution-oriented approach strengthen Finmark’s commitment to demonstrating continued professional leadership as a multi-generational, dynamic, innovative, and inspiring construction company committed to successful partnerships and employee well-being.”

We have long known that here in North Texas, of course. 

Finmark Construction: a Family-Owned Company

But why did a family-owned company run by three brothers — Derek, Ned and Levi Oja — founded in 2011 and based on four generations of craftsmanship in construction, pluck a builder 1,400 miles south of Kalispell, Montana, to grow the family business? 

In a word, values.

The Ojas were raised in Hancock, Michigan. Almost everyone in their family is or was involved in the construction business: father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all worked in construction. Their great-grandfather not only built an entire church, but he handcrafted all the pews for it, too. The Ojas are not a small family, either. Derek, Ned, and Levi are three out of 14 siblings.

“We all grew up with a lot of siblings and very strong values,” says Derek. “Last summer, all seven of us boys were working for Finmark. My youngest brother was 13 and even he wanted to swing hammers and learn the business.”

The whole-family participation impresses: “Meeting with potential new clients, you can almost feel them getting confidence and trust from the family ties,” says Hudson. 

As quoted by Montana Living Magazine:

“With Finmark, you’re not paying for a contractor, you’re joining the family, a family that prides itself on a history of timeless quality and pride of heritage.” 

Urban Exodus Means a Building Boom in Montana

Montana is one of the hottest exodus states right now, and not just for fading Boomers: Gen X, flush with bucks, is embracing it due to its unbelievable climate and breathtaking scenery that allows for skiing in the winter and hiking and flyfishing in the summer. 

Don’t forget about Millennials: those 28 to 43 year olds, are now America’s largest generation. They have the influence and buying power and they are moving to Montana, too. In fact, wealthy Millennials are moving to Montana at the third-highest rate of Millennial migration in the nation.

It was a smart move by Finmark to bring on a hard-working industry expert to help draw more of this type of customer, especially from the Lone Star State. 

Hudson has family ties in Montana, too. His brother, a retired Fort Worth fireman, has been in Kalispell for years. He transitioned into the leading lumber salesman for a Flathead Valley-based lumber company after three decades in the lumber industry in Texas. Hudson was introduced to Finmark through his brother’s business and personal relationship with Derek Oja, Finmark’s founder.   

Through that introduction, Derek and Hudson shared many conversations about industry trends, growth, and the future of Finmark.  During those conversations, they both recognized their almost identical perspectives on life, family, homebuilding, and real estate development. 

This led to a natural desire to partner up and share their passion and expertise to help Finmark continue to be the leading custom home builder in the area.  The mutual decision was made to bring Hudson on as a managing partner, with an emphasis on Finmark’s business development. They found not just an entrepreneurial kindred spirit, but a hustler and hard-working partner excited to be a part of the Finmark team to help with the future regional growth. 

From East Texas to Northwest Montana

Hudson currently resides in Hideaway, just outside of Tyler, Texas, but will eventually be in Montana full-time. 

“The piney woods and lakes of East Texas are beautiful, but the summers here are brutal,” Hudson said.  “Being able to vacation in a cooler climate where you can be outdoors for everything is what drew me, and others, to Montana.” 

Hudson will not only have a home in Whitefish, Montana, but he will also have an opportunity to continue doing what he loves — building cool homes.  He has always loved the mountains and long thought of transitioning his building company to somewhere in the Rockies, but he knew recreating the business he built in Texas would have challenges and take time. 

Hudson considers himself fortunate to have aligned with Derek and the Finmark team.  The opportunity to join forces with an established and growing construction business in the mountains doesn’t just happen.  

Given that it is in Montana is another bonus. 

“The people of Montana remind me of Texans – they are polite and courteous and put an emphasis on good manners,” Hudson said. “Surrounding my family with those values was important to me.”

Hudson has no intention of slowing down or retiring, ever. 

“I love to work and make things happen,” he said. “I was looking for that ‘next 20 years’ plan and I found that with Finmark.” 

For more information about Finmark Construction, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, or visit finmarkconstruction.com.  To connect with Chad you can reach out to him at  [email protected].