In episode 26, guest host Gregory Paolini, founder of Gregory Paolini Design and board member of the Cabinet Makers Association (CMA), sits down with Gary Balcom, president of Atlanta Cabinet Shop Inc. in Buford, Georgia, to explore his journey from hobbyist to industry leader. Balcom reflects on learning woodworking as a teenager in Western New York, inspired by his father and PBS icons like Norm Abram and Roy Underhill, and how an early silhouette business sparked his entrepreneurial mindset. He traces his path from Niagara Falls to a high-end conference table shop in Vermont, and eventually to Georgia, where he now leads a commercial millwork operation focused on panel processing for spaces like medical and dental offices. The conversation dives into the balance between high-tech manufacturing and traditional craftsmanship, with Balcom leveraging CNC-driven equipment at scale while maintaining a personal passion for hand-tool woodworking. He also shares how lean principles and Kanban systems support continuous improvement in a high-volume, data-driven environment, and why hiring for attitude, attention to detail, and aptitude often outweighs prior experience. They also highlight the value of the Cabinet Makers Association as a trusted network for collaboration, learning, and problem-solving within the industry.

PRO Cabinet Maker is produced by Association Briefings.

In Episode 25, guest host Terry Steffey of Dibbleville Woodworks and the Cabinet Makers Association sits down with Skylar Faria and Hannah Khalaf of SurfPrep to explore the company’s evolution and mission in the woodworking industry. They share how SurfPrep grew from a 1985 sales business into a family-owned manufacturer of innovative sanding systems designed to reduce strain on craftspeople, and discuss plans for a new 60,000-square-foot North Carolina facility that will expand production and create hands-on training opportunities for students and the community. The conversation also highlights veteran outreach inspired by the Purple Heart Project, ongoing product innovation including AI-enabled robotics, and the value of CMA membership in building connections and industry learning.

PRO Cabinet Maker is produced by Association Briefings.

In Episode 24, guest host Amy Thrasher-Price, owner of D&H Quality Cabinets and CMA board member, sits down with Rachel Cervos, founder of Cervos Kitchen Academy, to explore her decade-long journey in the cabinet and kitchen design industry. Rachel shares her experiences across stone importing, fabrication, installation, and sales, and how those roles inspired her to create Cervos Kitchen Academy—an interactive online training platform designed to fill a critical educational gap in the industry. Together, they discuss what it means to build a career as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, highlighting the power of education, collaboration, and resilience. Rachel also reflects on the strong sense of community within the Cabinet Makers Association and her vision for empowering more women to enter, grow, and lead in the trades.

PRO Cabinet Maker is produced by Association Briefings.