From Hard Times to Hard Hats: A.C.’s Journey from OFS Graduate to Business Owner
- jweyers3
- May 19
- 3 min read
How Operation Fresh Start gave one young man the tools—and confidence—to build a new life
Growing up in Madison, A.C. faced more than his fair share of challenges. Struggles with school attendance and home instability led him to Badger Challenge Academy, a boot-camp-style high school program at Fort McCoy. But after running away twice, he was eventually dismissed. With no clear path forward, a friend’s mom introduced him to Operation Fresh Start (OFS)—and it changed everything.
“She said, ‘You’re going. You’re going to learn construction, and it’ll save your life,'” A.C. said. “And she was right.”
Once enrolled at OFS, A.C. dove headfirst into the program. Over several months, he completed his High School Equivalency Diploma requirements and gained hands-on experience in construction. He graduated from OFS in 2006.
“I remember completing a whole house from start to finish—learning everything from studs to drywall. It was powerful to learn how a house comes together.”
However, it was the relationships formed that stood out the most.
“My supervisor, Tony, looked like a Viking—he was tough, a former Marine,” A.C. said. “But over time, he showed me he cared. He took me aside when I had a hard day. That mattered to me.”
One of A.C.’s favorite memories is the Golden Paddle—OFS's ongoing table tennis tradition. He was a holiday tournament winner during his time at OFS.
The Road from Crew Member to Crew Leader
After graduating, A.C. worked several temp jobs before finding a place with Tradesmen International, a non-union commercial company. From there, he sharpened his skills in steel framing and moved on to landscaping with Best Buds, before joining the Carpenters Union at age 26.
He worked with various union employers, helping build iconic spaces like Emerald City at Epic Systems. Despite his capabilities, advancing in the industry proved challenging.
“I was basically doing foreman work, managing crews, calculating materials, and giving daily direction. But I couldn’t break through to move up. I realized I could do all this myself.”
So, he took a leap and launched his own business.
Building Something of His Own
A.C. now runs a growing construction company named Saved By The Bell Construction— a nod to A.C. Slater's character on Saved by the Bell. Based in Madison, Saved By The Bell Construction offers many different services, including windows, doors, siding, facia, soffits, framing, stairs, ramps, decks, bathroom remodels, kitchen remodels, basement remodels, drywall, trim, stonework, paver patios, firepits, retaining walls, concrete work, tile work and much more.
He’s got big plans going forward to scale the business, including hiring a framing crew, a drywall crew, an exterior crew for siding and doors, an interior crew for trim and finishes and a full remodel and demo team.
However, it is important to him to serve Madison with high-quality, trustworthy work at a fair price—and to build opportunities for others like him.
“This place—OFS—saved my life,” A.C. said. “I would be dead or in jail without it. People took the time to help save me, and now I want to give back to the community.”
Giving Back to the Next Generation
As a business owner and mentor, A.C. now sees the impact he can have.
“I didn’t have people around me who ran businesses growing up,” he said. “I had to learn a lot on my own—YouTube University, trial and error. Now, I want to be that resource for others.”
He’s proud to represent the power of second chances, and the strength that comes from finding purpose in work.
“There’s a respect that comes from being a carpenter—from walking into the grocery store after a long day in your hard hat and high-vis,” he said. “OFS gave me that. It gave me something to strive for.”
Connect with A.C.
Saved By The Bell Construction is available for residential and commercial construction projects in the Madison area. To get a free estimate, consultation, or to learn more, visit https://www.savedbythebellconstructionllc.com/ or contact A.C. at 608-577-2628.
