Meet Kevin Hayes-Birchler, TDS Design Build Project Manager

A Madison native who grew up on the east side, Kevin graduated from Shabazz High School, spent a season in landscaping, and then enrolled in Madison College’s one-year Construction & Remodeling program—trading sketchbooks for circular saws and discovering an eye for millimeter-perfect trim. His first position after graduating is where he mastered old-home quirks: crooked plaster, mystery framing, and staircases that had to look 1890s-perfect by Friday.

Nine years ago, TDS Design Build had a job opening posted a mile from Kevin’s apartment. The craftsmanship matched his ambitions, and—just like the homeowners who now hire him—he felt instant trust in the people behind the work.

I joined TDS for the same reasons our clients hire us—quality work and good people.

Kevin Hayes-Birchler

Project Manager

After years of hands-on carpentry, Kevin moved into project management, bringing a finish carpenter’s precision to scheduling, problem-solving, and seamless day-to-day execution.

Off the clock, Kevin sticks to projects that keep his skills sharp. He built a basement workshop from salvaged maple cabinets and a ten-foot oak bench; it’s now his hub for bike repairs, model-car builds, and tools once stored in his carpenter’s van. His daughters, 10 and 12, drop in for school projects and Taekwondo practice—Kevin recently earned a black belt alongside the older one—and he’s the go-to parent for fixing everything from scooters to backpack straps.

When Wisconsin weather cooperates, you’ll find him landscaping and gardening around his Waunakee home: stacking reclaimed rock into retaining walls and planting elm, birch, and crab-apple trees.

As a Project Manager, Kevin sits at the nexus where design vision meets execution. He builds master schedules months in advance—booking trade partners, sequencing inspections, and ordering long-lead materials so work keeps moving without surprises. Site walks, plan checks, and quick fixes for “old-meets-new” quirks (out-of-plumb walls, century-old treads) keep projects on track. His high-end finish-carpentry background means he can spot a sixteenth-inch mismatch long before it hits a punch list.

Behind the scenes, Kevin is always helping revamp TDS’s internal processes—including updating schedules and checklists so the entire team can see four months ahead. The result: the right crews arrive on the right day, details align the first time, and homeowners stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether stain-matching 120-year-old trim or tying modern beams into crooked basements, he honors a home’s history while delivering today’s performance—echoing TDS’s commitment to helping our clients stay in the homes they love—while honoring and building upon the craftsmanship of the past.

As a project manager, he’s extended that rigor to the process. By rebuilding schedules and checklists, he ensures every trade, inspection, and material drop lands in the right order, keeping jobs on time and clients out of the stress loop. Site walks, proactive fixes, and clear communication show homeowners the respect they deserve, while his drive for continuous improvement (double black belts, a self-built workshop, teaching his kids tool skills) fuels the learning culture TDS prizes.