about wisconsin builders

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I grew up in a family that afforded me unique opportunities to learn about building, architecture and design at a very young age. My father worked as a millwork designer and later a division vice president of architectural millwork partly through a family business that I would often visit on weekends as youngster looking to build any woodworking project I could get my hands on out of whatever scrap was lying around the shop. However, my path wasn't directly into this line of work right away. Instead, I pursued engineering (computer network engineering to be specific) as a career. 

I spent over a decade engineering one of America's critical internet backbones for a major telecommunications company and later leading an elite team of fellow network engineers in an industrial manufacturing operation for a prominent steel manufacturer in Wisconsin. 

So how did I develop to become a general contractor?

I started Wisconsin Builders out of a desire to remodel and improve upon my own home with the intent to flip and move up the chain, so to speak. As I dug more into perfecting my trade as a homeowner, turned weekend warrior, turned carpenter, I found myself spending hours educating on and practicing the art of architectural design, carpentry and general contracting. (as well everything else that comes with it) I realized with these skills I didn't actually need to "flip" houses instead I could just have what I had always envisioned right then. 

But to become a professional is a far taller order than being savvy at the Home Depot.

So, I practiced, and when I say I practiced; I practiced. And practiced. Everything from how to spread drywall mud to cutting complex carpentry joints to painting, to setting cabinets, to hanging doors, to building stairs. 

If that wasn't enough, I then spent hours at the library reading books on architecture about the classical orders, about Milwaukee's unique architecture and how to design it. (see my blog) Hours reflecting on the dedication and endless labor of the tradesmen that came before us to build up a truly unique city and how to position ourselves in the future to bring back the lost spirit of craftsmanship. I pursued my dwelling contractor license (yes, we are a LICENSED and INSURED firm) made friends in the industry, asked to work alongside of them, share their horror stories and spray me with as much of the proverbial fire hose as possible. But all this wasn't enough. I needed to put all of this knowledge into action, otherwise it was for nothing. Thus, Wisconsin Builders was born. 

How does being an engineer and corporate manager help build a successful design-build firm?

Easy. It teaches you how to provide results to your clients. Real results. Something they can see and feel. Going before some of toughest leaders and executives teaches you to show up prepared, be ready for tough questions, mean what you say and put measurable results against your projects. Too many people get taken advantage of by contractors that return nothing but collect everything. I don't work that way. 

My aim is to provide my clients as much education as possible about the remodeling process so they can make informed and confident decisions about one of their greatest investments by the following:

1. Provide a design they love 

2. Build something they can be proud of

I encourage you to review our design-build process. We are incredibly transparent about it, but even more so diligent about following it. 

When selecting your contractor, I sure hope you consider us, because one of the top issues with remodeling is clients don't feel appreciated, communicated to or aware of what is happening. Our client centric design-build process seeks to alleviate those headaches and make construction something to be excited about. After all we have fun with it, so should you!

-Les