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.

In episode 23, guest host Randy Niewind, president of Randy’s Cabinets and Woodworks and the Cabinet Makers Association, sits down with AJ Durkton, co-founder of Live Oak Fine Cabinetry & Millwork in San Rafael, CA. AJ shares the story behind starting the company, its growth through a partnership with Julian Gaul who formerly owned Halocline Studio, and how that collaboration has boosted both capacity and efficiency. The discussion dives into operations, from outsourcing and project management to going paperless after being inspired by another shop. AJ also spotlights a large-scale project that pushed their systems to the limit, reflects on the value of CMA membership and industry events, and gives a preview of exciting new business expansions on the horizon.

PRO Cabinet Maker is produced by Association Briefings.

In Episode 22, guest host Amy Thrasher-Price, owner of D&H Quality Cabinets and CMA board member, talks with Connor Allen, manager of software and process at Boxwood Cabinetry in Oklahoma City. Connor shares the story of his family’s business, founded by his father in 1993, and how multiple family members play a role in its success. He dives into Boxwood’s unique operations, and how automation, bots, and data analytics are transforming their workflow. From his career shift in software development to leading process innovation at Boxwood, Connor reflects on balancing tradition with tech and the value of CMA membership in shaping the future of cabinetry.

PRO Cabinet Maker is produced by Association Briefings.