With 12 years at TDS and roots in carpentry that stretch back to his childhood, Alex Bartlett is the kind of builder who treats every home like it’s his own. As Field Operations Manager, he runs projects, mentors our carpenters, and serves as the go-to problem solver when something on a job needs a second set of experienced eyes.
A Carpenter from the Start
Alex grew up in Monroe, Wisconsin, learning the trade the old-fashioned way — from his dad. As a teenager, he helped remodel the family home, setting doors and running trim before most kids had a summer job. Cabinet-making classes in high school sharpened his detail work, and by the time he graduated, there was no question about what came next.
He started at UW-Platteville in Building Construction Management, but after two years realized the classroom wasn’t where he wanted to be. He wanted to actually swing a hammer. So he transferred to Madison College’s Construction & Remodeling program, where the focus was hands-on skills and jobsite readiness.
He graduated in 2013, went straight into a position at TDS, and hasn’t left. Twelve years at one company is unusual in this trade. Alex says it’s because the work keeps him challenged and the people keep him around.
“I knew I wanted to actually be out in the field, much more interested in doing the hammer swinging. Madison College gave me a path to show up with some real skills.”
Fishing Poles, Tax Records, and the Unknown
Alex will be the first to tell you: remodeling is harder than new construction, and it’s not even close. In new construction, everything is linear — you start with a hole in the ground and build on a flat, level surface. Mechanical chases, plumbing runs, HVAC — it all gets designed into the plans from the start.
Remodeling is a different animal. A turn-of-the-century home is nothing like a 1960s ranch, and you never really know what you’re getting until you open up the walls — Alex has pulled everything from fishing poles to decades-old tax records out of wall cavities over the years. Every kitchen is different. Every bathroom is different. Every addition ties into an existing structure with its own quirks. It’s a puzzle every time, and you never know what kinds of problems you’ll have to solve, which is exactly what Alex loves about the work.
Leading from the Jobsite
Alex’s role as Field Operations Manager grew naturally out of what he was already doing. He still runs his own projects as a lead carpenter — scheduling trade partners, managing material takeoffs, reviewing plans for potential conflicts, and keeping daily photo logs so homeowners always know what’s happening. That hands-on project work hasn’t changed.
What’s expanded is his reach across the rest of the field team. When another lead carpenter hits a complex framing problem or needs a second opinion on how to build something, Alex is the person who shows up to work through it. He’s currently training the team’s next lead carpenters, mentoring other field staff as they grow in their careers, and keeping an eye on the operational details that keep the production side running — from vehicle maintenance to shop organization.
It’s a role that only works because Alex has spent over a decade doing the work himself. He’s not managing from a desk. He’s on site, tools in hand, solving problems alongside the people he’s supporting.
One of the things that I think sets us apart is having somebody who’s torn that wall open several times and knows what they might expect to be behind there.”
Alex Bartlett
Field Operations Manager
Treating Every Home Like His Own
Ask Alex what matters most on a project, and he won’t talk about the finished product first. He’ll talk about keeping the site clean.
He’s upfront with every homeowner: he shows up at 7:30 and leaves at 3:30, but they have to live in the middle of a remodel. So the TDS team keeps dust and debris separated from the client’s living areas and takes the extra time at the end of the day to vacuum and tidy up. It’s not glamorous. But Alex sees it as a fundamental expression of respect — for the client’s home, their space, and their trust.
Daily updates through JobTread keep homeowners informed with schedules, progress photos, and logs. Some clients check it religiously. Others barely glance at it. Either way, the information is there, and that transparency is part of how TDS keeps people feeling involved in a project they’re spending a lot of money on.
I tell every homeowner that I’ll treat their house like it’s my own. I think you can see that in the way we keep our jobsites.”
Off the Clock
Alex lives in Sauk City with his wife, Laura, a physical therapy assistant at the VA, and their cats, including a recent batch of foster kittens. He’s refreshingly honest about the line between work and home: carpentry is his career, and he loves it, but it’s not his hobby. When the day is done, the tools stay at the shop.
Instead, he and Laura spend their free time exploring Wisconsin’s outdoors — kayaking the Wisconsin River from the dam at Prairie du Sac down to Sauk City, hiking, and developing a serious appreciation for wine. As the weather turns colder, you’ll find him reaching for a Bordeaux. In the summer, it’s a six-pack of beer tucked in the dry well of a cheap sit-in kayak, a half bag of ice, and a slow paddle downstream.
Fun Facts about Alex
Monroe Roots
Alex grew up in Monroe, Wisconsin, and learned carpentry from his dad during a full home remodel as a teenager — setting doors and running trim before he was old enough to drive.
One-Company Career
Twelve years and counting at TDS. In a trade where carpenters frequently hop between crews, Alex has built his entire career at one firm — a testament to both the work and the culture.
Wall Archaeology
Over a decade of remodeling means Alex has found some interesting things inside walls: full fishing poles, old tax records, and the usual assortment of artifacts that end up behind the plaster in century-old homes.
Wine Over Woodworking
Unlike some of his colleagues who fill their garages with personal projects, Alex clocks out and stays clocked out. His after-work passion is wine — old world versus new world, with a current preference for French Bordeaux as the weather cools down.
Why Alex Embodies the TDS Vision
At TDS Design Build, the people who show up at your home every day matter as much as the plans on paper. Alex Bartlett is the reason clients trust the process — and the reason the field team keeps getting better.
With more than a decade of experience, Alex brings a rare combination of technical skill and genuine care for the people around him, whether that’s a homeowner living through a remodel or a younger carpenter figuring out how to solve a problem they haven’t seen before. His move into the Field Operations Manager role reflects something TDS believes in deeply: that the best leaders in this trade are the ones who never stop doing the work themselves.
Whether he’s running his own project, coaching a teammate through an unfamiliar detail, or simply making sure the site is clean before he leaves for the day, Alex shows up with the same steady commitment: build it right, treat people well, and take pride in the work.
When past clients in Madison’s charming and historic Nakoma neighborhood sought to reimagine their home’s layout, they turned once again to TDS Design Build. Their goal: a remodel that would enhance the daily functionality and flow of their home while preserving its classic character.
Erika & Levi’s second-story addition allowed space for their growing family, making their house a home for the years ahead in the neighborhood they love.
Doug and Kate’s home addition and renovation gave them a functional space to grow their family in the neighborhood they love—making their space a home for years to come.
This custom new home built just outside of Madison completed in 2018 was designed using passive house principles and building practices. The design features two bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, an open living room/kitchen, and a mudroom connector between the home and adjacent barn/living space built by the homeowner.
This handsome brick home, a City of Madison Historic Landmark, received many restoration and upgrades after a chronic case of “deferred maintenance”. A historically sensitive, single-story addition, with an exposed basement, was added to increase living space while maximizing lake views. An additional half-bathroom was added over the new foundation, utilizing salvaged brick to maintain the historical essence of the home. Select interior walls were also removed for better flow and views.
This Monona home is hardly recognizable after a whole house remodel! No additional square footage was added to this property, but an open floor plan and smart design make the 1,000 sq. foot home feel spacious.
We restored the home with an open floor plan and two bedrooms to be energy efficient, very comfortable, and smartly designed. We rebuilt the existing rear “addition” as a combination entryway and sunny sitting room with new stairs to the basement. The result? This eastside bungalow got a much needed overhaul!
