Lean Thinking in a High-Volume, Data-Driven Shop

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.

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Avsnitt(27)

Built By Family, Driven By Innovation

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 mis...

24 Feb 26min

Crafting Careers: How Education Strengthens the Next Generation of Cabinet Makers

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...

17 Dec 202537min

Scaling Up: Partnership, Projects, and Progress

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 ...

27 Aug 202522min

Tech, Tradition, and Family: Innovating Without Losing the Roots

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...

25 Juni 202532min

Building Futures: How Hands-On Learning Inspires the Next Generation

In episode 21, guest host Randy Niewind, president of Randy's Cabinets and Woodworks and president of the Cabinet Makers Association. He chats with Bobby Miller, a dedicated woodshop teacher from Coon...

7 Maj 202541min

From Tradition to Technology: Lessons in Leadership and Operations

In episode 20, Gregory Paolini, founder of Gregory Paolini Design and secretary of the Cabinet Makers Association (CMA), takes over as host to chat with fellow board member Jason Norvell, owner of Nor...

26 Feb 202530min

Building Success: Challenges, Growth and Industry Leadership

In episode 19, we give the hosting reins to Terry Steffey, owner of Dibbleville Woodworks in Fenton, MI, and board member of the Cabinet Makers Association. He chats with fellow board member Amy Thras...

21 Nov 202423min