From the Ground Up: Dreams Built by Hand

For Nick Castillion, success has little to do with titles or dollar signs. “The only reason I work this hard is to buy time, not things,” he says. “Not to give up the company, but to delegate more, to have the freedom to go camping, to take a vacation, to go do the things that matter.”

It’s about choice. And he’s building a company that reflects that: one where his team doesn’t have to choose between a paycheck and a life.

In the world of dirt work, where heavy machines carve the beginnings of dreams into the earth, Nick Castillion stands at the helm of Dreamworx Services; it’s not just a business, but a vision built from grit, loyalty, and heart.

Nick, husband to Emily, turned his vision into reality in 2021. Before Dreamworx was born, Nick was behind the controls of a mini excavator at a local utility company, learning the trade and wondering how to take his skills to the next level. “I figured the best way to do that,” he says with a shrug, “was to own my own company.”

Today, under the direction of Nick and his business partner, Ty Blackburn, Dreamworx specializes in house pads, land clearing, grading, ponds, arenas, and more. “Anything dirt,” Nick says. “If it involves a machine, we’ll figure it out.”

But machines alone don’t move earth. It’s people, and the ones beside Nick matter most. Finding the right crew, he says, has been his biggest challenge. But once he found his core team, things started to click. “You can’t expect to get respect unless you give it,” he explains. “I run this place on trust. My guys clock their hours honorably. It’s not about micromanaging. It’s about character.”

What Nick values most isn’t just skill, it’s honesty. Balance. A sense of home. He encourages his crew to take weekends off, to show up for their families, to be present at home, because he knows firsthand what’s at stake when you’re not. “Without balance, when work starts going bad, that’s all you have,” he says. “And the whole world starts crashing down.”

For Nick, success isn’t about chasing dollars or building an empire. “Short term, I just want to keep doing good work with good people. Long term? I just want everyone here to be happy to show up to work. That’s it.”

That mindset has earned him quiet respect, and for many on his team, mentorship. But Nick’s quick to wave that off. “They’d be fine without me,” he says. “If anything, I learn as much from them as they do from me.”

Still, his influence is clear. He leads by example, never showy, always grounded. It’s a humility born from knowing what it’s like to start from the bottom, to have no perfect blueprint, just a dream.

Even the name, Dreamworx, came from that spark. “It was my dream to own a company,” Nick says. “And yeah, people laughed at the name at first. But now? It fits. Because every yard we clear, every house pad we build, it’s someone’s dream we’re helping make real.”

It’s that hands-in-the-dirt, boots-on-the-ground grit that makes Nick a perfect face for Justin Boots’ Homeland Collection; built for those who shape the land and carry the weight of hard work with pride. Nick’s choice in boots mirrors his values: durable, lightweight, no-nonsense. “We’re always on the move,” he says. “Comfort matters. A good boot should help you last through the long days.”

And what about the American Dream? For Nick, it isn’t about big houses or new trucks, it’s about freedom: to spend a Friday at a Rangers game, to take a vacation when you need it, to buy back your own time.

Because in the end, it’s not just about moving earth. It’s about building a life for yourself, your family, and the people who trust you to lead with integrity. These are the hands of the Homeland.