Meet the 3rd Gen Deck Building Team

If you only remember one thing about our team, let it be how committed we are to providing the best experience possible for every homeowner we work with. We’ve been trusted by hundreds of clients in Madison & Appleton, WI since 2017 & hope you’ll become one of them.

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What impressed me most was their exceptional customer service and responsiveness. But what truly sets them apart is the quality of the deck they built. They used some fantastic TimberTech materials, and the result is not just sturdy but looks amazing too.
Ryan Love

Meet the Owners

In 2010, Matt and his wife, Cassie, met and fell in love in Madison (ironically while running summer painting franchises in college). In 2017, they decided to start their own business, 3rd Gen, and have been honored to serve WI homeowners with quality craftsmanship and incredible customer service ever since. They still live in Dane County with their sweet rescue pup, Tuck, and enjoy spending time on Lake Monona, trying new dishes at their favorite restaurants (like Cento and Eno Vino), and planning where they’ll travel next.  
So, where does the “3rd Gen” name come from? You could say home improvement runs in their families. Matt’s grandpa ran a concrete business and Cassie’s grandpa was a painting contractor. With Matt’s lifelong passion for the trades and their mutual love of entrepreneurship / making people feel cared for, starting a home improvement business just fit! After hearing what some of our clients have been through with other contractors making promises they didn’t keep, we knew we wanted to do things differently. Our team has one guiding principal… regardless of whether it’s harder, less profitable, or less convenient, we always do the right thing.

Meet the 3rd Gen Team

Ensuring you have a great experience every step of the way is truly a team effort. Luckily, we have one of the best. We’d love for you to get to know some of the talented people that will bring your project to life…

Alex Malesa

Alex Malesa

Vice President

As our resident deck material expert, Alex is always keeping an eye on new decking products and trends, sorting through what’s worth offering our clients and what isn’t. Combined with his ability to ask the right questions, he’s incredible at helping our team design thoughtful, custom spaces for homeowners.

On a personal note, he’s an avid hunter and fellow foodie who is most likely to be found at antique shops or local farmers markets with his wife and kids.

Brian Feiler

Brian Feiler

Sales Consultant (Madison)

As one of our senior salespeople, he’s gained a reputation for meeting clients where they are and clearly / confidently answering questions. Fun fact: outside of work, Brian is the head coach for Verona’s Girls Varsity Lacrosse team.

Ben Vanderlei

Ben Vanderlei

Sales Consultant (Madison)

One of the most thorough communicators on our team, Ben loves getting to know clients so he can cater to their lifestyle. In his free time, he enjoys collecting Pokémon cards and hanging out with his wife and daughter!

Eric VanEyck

Eric VanEyck

Sales Consultant (Fox Valley)

Starting off as one of our crew leads, Eric’s building experience makes him incredibly gifted at coming up with the most creative solutions for our clients. When he’s not working, he loves restoring his old truck.

Aaron O'Connell

Aaron O'Connell

General Manager (Fox Valley)

As a Neenah native, Aaron is excited to be serving the Fox Valley by building decks, screen porches, & more. In his free time, he loves hunting & fishing (not surprising considering he used to work in management for the WI DNR).

Autumn Lyons

Autumn Lyons

Production Manager (Madison)

Her attention to detail & communication skills make Autumn the perfect client contact & building crews manager (just look at our Google reviews for proof). Outside of work, she enjoys local fish fries & camping with her wife and pups.

Zack Baker

Zack Baker

Operations Manager

You likely won’t meet him, but he’s an integral part of completing your project. From drawings & permits to ordering materials, he keeps operations in both Madison & Fox Valley running. Personally, Zack enjoys spending time with his wife and kids!

3rd Gen Deck Builders & Painters

Last but certainly not least are our insanely talented carpenters and painters. We believe skills can be taught, but character cannot, so regardless of past experience, every crew member is thoroughly vetted and trained to our standards. We’re proud to say that not only are our crews incredible at what they do, they’re also good humans.

(You should also know that as TimberTech Platinum Pro builders, our leadership team has been educated by the manufacturer themselves. Because of this, our clients get a deck labor warranty that’s 4-7 years longer than they would get with many of our competitors.)

Couldn’t be happier with the quality of the work and professionalism along the way. Matt is extremely responsive, transparent, and remained flexible as this project occurred directly over the pandemic. I presented complex design elements and always felt my voice was heard throughout the process. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again. After years of unpleasant contractor experiences, this was a refreshing change of pace.
Jeremy London

“The process and communication was clear start to finish, & the deck was done in ~3 weeks. Everyone we worked with has been excellent & responsive. 2-3 mo after completion, one of our trees fell on it & damaged the railing & child gate; we had 3rd Gen come back out & handle all repairs, which were timely & reasonable.”

Emily Paulson

“Matt and his team are great to work with. They are honest and treat your house with respect. They do quality work and deliver on time.”

Cheri Ripp

“After getting several estimates & interviewing contractors, we chose 3rd Gen. Matt & Alex helped us design our deck, making several recommendations we hadn’t considered, showing their expertise & professionalism. They were detailed & perfectionist, readily answering questions & making adjustments as they went. We highly recommend them to anyone.”

Don Rehm

“Everyone always showed up on time & worked quietly, calmly, steadily. They were professional, respectful, friendly & competent. The entire crew was always kind & engaging with our two curious grandchildren. Their attention to the details of prepping, painting, clean-up & safety were impressive. Everyone was exceptionally trustworthy… And trust is the bedrock of all good business relationships.”

Chris Hinrichs

Let's Talk Details

We’d love to hear about your project, so we can schedule a time to meet.
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Inspection & Estimate

After chatting through details, we’ll make custom recommendations.
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Design & Materials

We’ll confirm colors / products & pull any necessary permits.

Bring Your Vision to Life

Our teams will get to work & communicate clearly along the way!

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Our Home Improvement Services

Interior & Exterior Painting (Madison)

As EPA Lead Certified contractors, we know the importance of good prep work. Your house won’t just look great when we’re done with it, it’ll last too!

Decks (Madison & Appleton)

From rebuilding your old deck to designing / constructing a full blown 4-season room addition, we’d love to make your outdoor space an oasis.

Remodeling (Madison)

Whether it’s creating the spa-like bathroom of your dreams or giving your family more finished space in the basement, we’d love to help.

Look Through Past Projects

Anyone can say they have great craftsmanship or that they’ll treat you well, but how do you know if that’s true? We highly encourage you to not only read our Google reviews for both painting & decks, but also see some of our work for yourself.
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