Since 1980
One founder, one bedroom, and forty-plus years of buildings since.
Cardinal Construction started with Dick Cardinal working alone out of a room 10 feet by 10 feet. Today the office runs a staff of five with 20 to 50 people in the field, and it has been owned by Mike and Paul Duesterbeck since 2019.
How the company got here
The same company, three addresses.
1980
Dick Cardinal starts the company alone, working out of a 10 by 10 foot bedroom.
1984
The company moves into its first real office, at 66 E. Scott Street.
1991
A move to Industrial Parkway, where the office still sits today.
2002
The Industrial Parkway offices are expanded for the first time.
A few years later
The offices are expanded again to keep pace with the work.
2019
Mike and Paul Duesterbeck buy the company. They own it today.
Fond du Lac, early 1980s
A house on the line for a bonded job.
The first job was a small commercial remodel. The first bonded job was for the City of Fond du Lac, and Dick Cardinal mortgaged his own house to secure the bond. Interest rates were running 18 to 20 percent at the time, and work was hard to find.
“The decision of going into business.”
Mike and Paul Duesterbeck have owned Cardinal Construction since 2019.
Dick Cardinal built the company from nothing and founded it in 1980. The office today runs a staff of five, with a field staff of 20 to 50 depending on what is under construction, and every project still carries a one year labor warranty.
In their own words
Letters from clients who hired us more than once.
“The experience we had with Cardinal Construction on our new industrial building was exceptional. Todd was great to work with and kept the project on schedule while also working through changes mid-stream. Our budget and quoted prices were always kept in check, while unforeseen obstacles were kept to a minimum. We would definitely use them again for another project.”
“Cardinal Construction was very efficient and detailed in their role as general contractor for our Cedarburg Fire Station No. 2 project. They were very prompt with responding to any Town concerns and provided a tremendous finished product. I would recommend Cardinal Construction to any municipality or organization looking for a general contractor.”
“We have been doing business with Cardinal Construction for over 20 years. All our experiences with Cardinal have been great, from on time to completion. We have on numerous occasions added more to the scope of the project and Cardinal has come through for us on time and within budget. Cardinal is our first call when we have projects that need budget numbers for yearly planning.”