Underneath every successful design-build project lies a foundation of solid financial management and continual team support. Tanya Rucinski provides exactly that structure for TDS Design Build, ensuring our operations run seamlessly so our design and build teams can focus on creating enduring spaces for our clients.
Since joining TDS in 2019, Tanya has mastered the critical balance between fiscal responsibility and human-centered leadership. Her expertise spans financial operations, human resources, and office management—roles that directly support our commitment to transparent budgeting, professional team development, and the smooth project delivery our clients expect.
Practical Magic
Tanya brings a unique perspective shaped by both formal education and practical application. After completing her MBA and spending sixteen years managing complex payroll and operational systems in the hospitality industry, she discovered her calling at TDS. “The transition allowed me to finally use my degree in a way that aligned with my values,” she reflects.
Her management expertise extends beyond the professional realm—as mom to three boys, Tanya has mastered the art of juggling competing priorities with grace. “They deal with my weird ways and are my world outside of work,” she laughs. “A mother’s job is never done.” This experience managing a household across multiple life stages translates perfectly to her role supporting TDS team members at various career points.
Her approach to leadership reflects TDS’s core philosophy: meticulous attention to detail combined with genuine care for people.
Systems FTW (or Systems that Work)
Tanya’s role extends far beyond traditional accounting. She creates the financial and operational systems that enable TDS to deliver on our promise of transparent, stress-free project experiences. Her administrative and accounting expertise ensures the behind-the-scenes financial items have every i dotted and every t crossed, while her HR leadership supports the professional team environment that sets TDS apart in the industry.
Dependable systems create space for creativity and craftsmanship.”
Tanya Rucinski
Accounting & HR Manager
This philosophy aligns perfectly with TDS’s design-build approach, where defined processes serve both our team and our clients’ best interests.
Grounding in Nature
Away from the office, Tanya finds balance through outdoor pursuits—hiking local trails and exploring Wisconsin’s natural landscapes. This connection to nature reflects the thoughtful, grounded approach she brings to her work at TDS.
While out on the trails, Tanya collects rocks, twigs, leaves, and bones (yes, bones – she’s the office goth, after all) for her artwork. Her creative interests provide a counterbalance to analytical work, demonstrating the kind of well-rounded perspective that enriches our team culture.
A Balancing Act
On paper, Tanya owns finance, HR, and office operations. In practice, that means guardrails and guardianship: accurate job costing, payroll on time, benefits administered, policies clarified, and a watchful eye on any change that could ripple through the team. She prizes reliability over novelty—QuickBooks Desktop over glitchy experiment—because accuracy is the point. “Some things just don’t automate,” she notes. The value is cumulative: dependable systems, fewer fires, more mental space for the craft. It’s very much the TDS way—built by humans, for humans.
Fun Facts About Tanya
Rock Hound
She once hauled 50 pounds of South Dakota stones home—then bought more at a shop on the way out.
Nature Artist
Found materials > store-bought; the work is as much ritual as décor.
Dog Mom
Aria, her 55-pound “tornado,” has strong opinions about personal space.
Zodiac Rules
You want a Taurus in charge of your books.” Enough said
Why Tanya Embodies the TDS Vision
Tanya embodies TDS values through her commitment to professional excellence and genuine care for team members. Her behind-the-scenes work ensures that clients experience the seamless, professional service that defines the TDS difference. By maintaining precise financial controls and fostering a supportive work environment, she directly contributes to our ability to deliver exceptional design-build projects.
