Western Builders was founded in 1972 by Roger Bartlett and Don Hensley who met each other while attending Western Carolina University. Although initially a residential contractor, by 1976 they were already transitioning into commercial construction and, by 1980, they were working exclusively in commercial projects.

Roger Bartlett was born in the Charlotte area and began working in construction while still in high school. Don Hensley has been in construction his entire life. He was raised in Hendersonville. His father was in construction and, after receiving a degree in Marketing, he too began a lifelong career in construction.

36 years later, this two-man team has expanded into a major construction firm with sixty employees and a countless array of quality sub-contractors. President Roger Bartlett serves as a liaison between the office and the field. His partner, Vice-President Don Hensley, handles the daily operations of the office.