From Nothing to $220M | Matt Aston's Unlikely Journey
This five-part series explores the journey of Matt Aston, founder of Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS), and how his faith transformed a one-man operation into a national ministry of excellence and safety.
The Unguarded Gate – A Lesson in Divine Timing
Every great journey begins with a single step, but for Matt Aston, it began with a magazine and an open gate. At 24, Matt found himself at a crossroads. His father, a concrete professional, encouraged him to start his own path, handing him a magazine featuring Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology.
In the fragile months following 9/11, Matt was struggling to create awareness for a service no one knew they needed. On December 23, 2001, he saw a crane at the Detroit airport and felt a pull to investigate. In a moment of clear Divine Providence, the security gate—usually guarded and locked—was wide open. That one "unguarded" night led Matt to a contractor in desperate need of finding post-tension cables in a 400-room hotel.
"That was the first time I thought I think God might be looking out for me in this business." — Matt Aston
The Takeaway: When we commit our works to the Lord, He opens doors that no man can shut. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to drive through the open gate.
Working "On" the Business – The Leap of Faith
For the first five years, Matt questioned the viability of his dream every single day. He was the technician, the salesman, and the manager, often feeling the weight of the "spirit of fear" that plagues many entrepreneurs.
The turning point came during the construction of the Trump Tower in Chicago in 2006. Deep into a six-figure project, Matt realized he was the bottleneck. Inspired by the E-Myth philosophy and his growing trust in God’s plan, he made the difficult choice to replace himself in the field. By shifting his focus from doing the work to building the systems and people, Matt moved from a "one-man operation" to a leader of a national movement.
The Takeaway: You cannot achieve your full potential if you are holding onto every detail. True growth requires the humility to empower others and the faith to step into the role of a visionary leader.
A Culture of Autonomy – The Power of People
Matt Aston’s leadership style is rooted in a simple truth: "The business is a lot less about the business than it is about the people working in the business". Instead of rigid red tape and bureaucracy, Matt sought to build the "biggest small company" possible.
By instilling Core Values—Teamwork, Integrity, Mutual Respect, Growth-mindedness, and Safety—Matt created an environment where employees felt a sense of ownership without having direct equity. He moved away from "handing down goals" and instead invited his team to help create the strategy. This culture of autonomy allowed GPRS to expand into 60 cities, fueled by a team that truly had each other's backs.
The Takeaway: Leadership is not about control; it is about service. When you honor the dignity and potential of your team, they will carry the vision further than you ever could alone.
"One More Stop" – Refusing to Participate in Recession
In 2020, as the world slowed down due to COVID-19, many businesses retreated in fear. Matt’s response was different: "We're not going to participate in the recession". This wasn't arrogance; it was a mindset based on faith.
The company utilized a mantra called "One More Stop"—the habit of talking to one more person, dropping off one more card, and educating one more client before leaving a job site. This relentless commitment to awareness and service led to Exponential Growth. GPRS skyrocketed from $40 million in revenue to $220 million in just seven years, proving that when you plant seeds of integrity, the harvest is inevitable.
The Takeaway: Fear is "faith in reverse". By choosing to "plow through" difficult seasons with confidence in God’s provision, we find that our potential grows as we grow.
Anchoring Hope – Beyond the Bottom Line
As GPRS nears the milestone of 1,000 employees, Matt Aston’s focus has shifted toward a new mission: LifeWise Academy. This organization utilizes "Released Time" laws to bring the Gospel to public school students during school hours.
Matt recognizes that while mapping utilities saves lives on a job site, sharing the Word of God saves lives for eternity. His investment in LifeWise is a reflection of his belief that we must "commit our works unto the Lord" in everything we do. For Matt, the success of GPRS is not the end goal; it is the platform God provided to shine a light in the "last days".
The Takeaway: Our businesses are our ministries. Whether you are scanning concrete or leading a thousand-person team, the ultimate goal is to glorify the Lord and anchor hope in the hearts of others.
"If we're not committing our works under the Lord, then it's all in vain anyway." — Matt Aston
Author: Jovilyn Abella
“Our company really started to take off when I realized that the business is a lot less about the business than it is about the people working in the business.”
