My name is Jesse Spader, co-owner of Dahlia Design Remodel. I’m the project manager, lead carpenter, cabinet maker, and responsible for an assortment of other things. I’m Alycia’s “fixer”.  My goal is to take what Alycia and you have in mind and, with a few inputs of my own, make it happen. My motto, when asked if something can be done, is “Anything can be done, it’s up to me to figure it out”.

Since I was a kid I was always building something. From Lego sets, to snow forts, to a full size bunker system in my backyard, just ask me sometime. I got into the construction world while working at my hometown lumberyard. With encouragement from my now wife, I went to college at Western Illinois University and completed a bachelor’s degree in construction management.  During my college years I was always building something; cornhole sets, props and sets for the dance club I worked at, custom bars, you name it. I was the guy who fixed stuff and built whatever.  

Following college, we moved to Madison where I worked as a trim carpenter, then at a construction engineering firm. At the engineering firm, I was testing materials, observing and documenting what others were doing. Although that is important and was a great job, it made me realize that I truly missed being creative. After three years there, I discovered that Madison College offered a cabinetmaking and millwork degree. So, I enrolled and earned their certificate. 

After Madison College I spent 5 years being a custom cabinetmaker, installer and project manager for a small, local company. Alycia and I have been working together for several years now and I have to say, we are one hell of a team! She is an intelligent and creative woman. We see eye to eye on a lot of things, but even if we don’t, we take each other’s opinions into consideration and eventually reach a solution that works for everyone. Ultimately, we have the same goal; creating a space that is beyond what the customer thought it could be. 

On a personal note, I love to travel with my wife, I love all animals but would openly call myself a cat guy, and have the most fun just laughing and hanging out with friends. Besides that, I “work”; my job is something I love all aspects of, and if I’m not busy doing something else, you’ll find me in the shop making noise, and sawdust.

Check out my LinkedIn page to learn more about my experience.