About Catalyst Cabin Care

A local cabin owner helping give your cabin a boost.

My name is Matt Aune. I opened Catalyst Cabin Care LLC in June of 2026 as a curious solopreneur interested in learning more about building a small business.

Why this business exists

Built as a bridge, shaped by lake life.

In September of 2026, Matt will begin his 31st year of teaching high school math at Andover High School in the north suburban metro area.

With retirement still more than a few years away, he started Catalyst Cabin Care as a business he could slowly build into an effective bridge between teacher retirement at age 60 and full retirement at age 65.

As a cabin owner, Matt has learned that small jobs around the cabin can pile up. He also realized he does not mind doing those jobs while he is at the lake. Staining a dock, mowing the lawn, hauling away brush, or cleaning the cabin does not feel quite like work when the view is Lake Vermilion.

Cook and Lake Vermilion roots

Family history in the community.

Matt’s parents both graduated from Cook High School, and both sides of his family have deep roots in the Cook community.

His maternal grandfather built a career as a teacher and coach at Cook High School.

His paternal grandparents were longtime Cook residents who owned and operated L&L Bakery in downtown Cook during the 1960s before moving full time to their Black Bay cabin.

Matt grew up in Hibbing, later moved to the Twin Cities, and returned to Lake Vermilion life when his family purchased a cabin on Wakemup Bay during the pandemic.

How Catalyst Cabin Care works

Seasonal, small-scale, and personal.

Because Matt is still an active high school teacher, Catalyst Cabin Care is beginning as a seasonal operation open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

It is currently a one-man operation, which is why the work is focused on smaller jobs in Wakemup and the surrounding bays.

Matt’s professional training is limited to staining and painting, skills he developed while working for College Pro Painting during college. His broader experience comes from being a home and cabin owner who is thorough, thoughtful, and focused on making sure the final result is something you are happy with.

Cabin jobs

Small projects that make the cabin feel cared for again.

Paint or stain decks, docks, furniture, and small outbuildings such as sheds, saunas, bunkhouses, and garages.

Interior cleaning for short-term rental turnovers, kitchen and bathroom resets, dusting, and window cleaning.

Exterior cleaning, including pressure washing furniture, decks, docks, and similar surfaces.

Lawn care, including mowing, trimming, and blowing off walkways and hard surfaces.

Brush removal for small storm blowdown, small trees, and haul-away jobs.

Junk removal for small piles that have been neglected over time.

Asphalt driveway maintenance, including small patches, crack filling, and sealcoating.

Start a conversation

Have another small job in mind?

Let Matt know what you need done, and he will tell you whether it is something he is able to take on.

Request estimate Email Matt

763.221.5156 · mattaune73@gmail.com