Rocket Construction may be a young firm by industry standards, but its trajectory in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley reflects a maturity that belies its age. Founded in 2022, the company has quickly built a reputation for taking on a wide range of projects, from multifamily residential developments to commercial buildings and build-to-suit work, all while grounding its growth in local relationships and careful execution. That balance between ambition and restraint, between momentum and method, has become central to how Rocket operates.
Based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Rocket Construction recently moved into new offices as both the company and its partner Property Minds, J&J Construction, continue to expand. The relocation was not symbolic so much as practical. Demand has increased steadily, and the business needed room to grow alongside it. Leadership attributes that growth not to rapid scaling for its own sake, but to attention to detail and a consistent emphasis on communication, ensuring that clients remain informed and involved throughout the life of a project.
At the center of Rocket’s story is founder Justin Held, a third-generation builder whose relationship with construction began long before the company itself existed. His grandfather and father both built homes for a living, and construction sites were a constant presence throughout his childhood. “I was always around construction sites, and I always knew I wanted to start a commercial, general-contracting company,” he said.
Held’s path to Rocket began early. At just 19, he created multiple businesses in 2018 as income streams, including one focused on building apartments. Those ventures allowed him to gain practical experience and build relationships with clients and trade partners, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Rocket Construction four years later. When the company launched, it did so with intention, keeping its footprint manageable while assembling the right people from the outset.
“We started off, obviously, pretty small, and we got the right people in place pretty early on,” said Aaron Anding, vice president and general superintendent. “That’s one of Justin’s biggest strengths. He found a good team of guys, and it’s been pretty easy from the beginning.”
“We don’t want to just get the job, because at the end of the day, that’s not [solely for] a good reputation. We have turned people away, but we turn them in a different direction.”
Today, Rocket Construction employs 12 people, with plans to continue growing its headcount as project volume increases. Even at this size, the company has already earned recognition within the region, including being named Best of the Chippewa Valley in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 reader polls conducted by Volume One, a local media company. In a competitive general-contracting market, those accolades signal more than visibility; they reflect trust built one project at a time.
Competition, however, is something Rocket’s leadership is acutely aware of. Jesse Jaskowski, the company’s president, acknowledges that standing out requires more than simply delivering projects. For Rocket, differentiation comes through collaboration, both internally and with clients, particularly during the early stages of a project. “We’re able to help all the way prior to land procurement – where it’s more of a vision to a claim – to design, development, performance and funding,” Jaskowski said. “When we do get that project from start to finish, I think the clients really notice a difference.”
That willingness to engage before construction begins is paired with a strong sense of responsibility to the broader community. Held emphasized that referral business is not just good practice but good citizenship. If a homeowner calls asking for a new roof, Rocket will often refer them to trusted local roofers rather than take on work outside its core focus. Similarly, when business owners explore expansion, Rocket aims to act as a guide rather than a salesperson, helping clients assess budgets, develop schematic drawings, and avoid overcommitting to projects they may not be ready to support.
“We don’t want to just get the job, because at the end of the day, that’s not [solely for] a good reputation,” Held said. “We have turned people away, but we turn them in a different direction.”
That philosophy carries through Rocket’s project portfolio, which reflects both technical capability and community engagement. One example is the Willow Creek Women’s Clinic in Altoona, Wisconsin. The project highlights Rocket’s growing involvement in outpatient healthcare facilities, an area the company views as a strategic growth opportunity. The clinic serves women of all ages, particularly during key transition points such as postpartum care and menopause, through services provided by nurse practitioners. For Held, projects like this resonate beyond the construction scope, offering the chance to support organizations that in turn strengthen the community and generate long-term relationships.
Another significant project was the Park Ridge Distributing facility in Eau Claire. Park Ridge is a locally owned beer and malt distributor serving partners throughout the region, and the project held personal significance for Jaskowski, who had worked in the warehouse during college. When the facility required an upgrade, Rocket stepped in to deliver a 20,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal building tailored to the distributor’s needs. At the time, it was Rocket’s largest project, involving a complex design-build process carried out in close coordination with an architect.
Community impact is also central to Rocket’s involvement with Hope Village in Chippewa Falls. The nonprofit has spent more than a decade providing free tiny houses and transitional housing for unsheltered individuals. Rocket recently signed on for Phase 2 of one of Hope Village’s developments, which includes two sixplexes and two duplexes, following the successful completion of Phase 1, which comprised one sixplex and two duplexes. The continuity of that relationship underscores Rocket’s commitment to projects that extend beyond immediate commercial return.
Similarly aligned with that mission is Rocket’s work with the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council in Eau Claire and Independence, Wisconsin. The organization supports individuals through trade education and income-based housing programs designed to promote long-term stability and home ownership. Rocket has assisted as WDEOC relocates its headquarters and is also involved in constructing a resource center for unsheltered individuals, providing access to showers, health resources, employment assistance, and other essential services.
In the healthcare sector, Rocket has built a strong relationship with Summit Dental Consulting in Eau Claire, WI, serving as a repeat contractor for multiple dental clinic remodels. These projects range from new additions to complete renovations of existing spaces, often performed while the clinics remain operational. Managing construction in occupied facilities requires careful sequencing and coordination, and Rocket has focused on minimizing disruptions while keeping schedules on track.
As Rocket looks toward the future, leadership remains focused on measured growth rooted in team development. Held reflected on the skepticism he encountered when founding the company in his early twenties, noting that those experiences reinforced his commitment to mentoring employees and investing in their long-term success. The company describes itself as “super-tight knit,” with a deliberate emphasis on retention so that employees can grow alongside the business rather than being left behind by it.
Strategies for the coming years include deepening relationships with repeat clients, expanding multifamily work, and gradually increasing project scale. While Rocket is not yet positioned to take on major institutional projects such as hospitals, Held noted that the firm’s growing healthcare experience could make such work feasible in the future.
Visibility remains part of that equation. As a smaller firm, Rocket continues to prioritize local events, networking, and social media as ways to stay connected to the community and communicate its values. For Jaskowski, presence matters as much as performance. “We just want to have more presence and networking,” he said, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged in the regions Rocket serves.
Underlying all of this is a commitment to transparency and respect for partners. Rocket’s leadership believes that treating subcontractors and vendors well, maintaining open communication, and addressing challenges directly are essential to sustaining growth beyond 2026. In an industry where reputation travels quickly, Rocket Construction is betting that consistency, community connection, and a willingness to do the work the right way will continue to fuel its rise in the Chippewa Valley and beyond.
