Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Amanda Conger, Executive Director of the Cabinet Makers Association (CMA), the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals (ACSP), and the National Woods Board (NWB). With over 20 years in the woodworking and machinery world, Amanda has become one of the industry's most influential voices for small shops, education, and workforce development. From the challenges facing t...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Bruno Calatayud, National Director at EFICAD, to talk about the development, evolution, and impact of SWOOD a SolidWorks-based CAD/CAM solution built specifically for the woodworking and millwork industry. Bruno shares the story of how SWOOD grew from an educational initiative in France into a global platform with clients in 50+ industry categories. From SolidWorks integration to m...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond is joined by Ryan Randell, National Director at Elevated Finishing, to dive deep into one of the most overlooked, and most painful, parts of a shop’s workflow: finishing. From long cure times to inconsistent results, finishing can often feel like a mysterious “black art.” But Ryan brings clarity, process, and serious innovation to the conversation, introducing us to a game-changing solution: the ...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this solo episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond steps out from behind the interview desk to tackle one of the most urgent problems in the millwork and construction industry, not the shortage of talent, but the shortage of training and mentorship. Drawing from his own unconventional path, from architecture school to engineering without prior cabinet-building experience, Jacob shares what it takes to create a true talent pipeline. This epis...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Matt Swatek, CEO of Microcap Solutions to discuss how millwork companies can future-proof their workforce through smarter recruiting, strategic HR practices, and proactive planning. About Our Guest Matt Swatek is the CEO of Microcap Solutions, a labor solutions and recruiting firm serving the millwork industry. His background includes leading HR and recruiting efforts ...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Bruce Chezem, longtime Cabinet Vision consultant, shop owner, educator, and host of the Cabinet Vision Minute podcast. From his start in cabinetmaking as a young firefighter to running his own shop during the Great Recession and now helping hundreds of businesses optimize their software and workflows, Bruce has seen it all. Where to Learn More Company Website: https://crafts...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond reconnects with returning guest Adria Salvatore, Education Director at the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI), to explore the education initiatives that are shaping the next generation of millwork professionals. Where to Learn More Adria Salvatore's info:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adria-salvatore-4b590610/Email: adria@awinet.orgAWI:Website: www.awinet.org LinkedIn: https...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with brand strategist, author, and leadership coach Skot Waldron to unpack what effective leadership really means in today’s evolving millwork and construction industry. Where to Learn More Skot's Website: http://www.skotwaldron.comSkot’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skotwaldron/Book: Unlocked – A 52 Week Guide for the Intentional LeaderFind it here: Skot's Book: Unlocked, a 52...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify Infield, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Curtis Garrard, Continuous Improvement Manager at Stevens Industries, to unpack what continuous improvement actually looks like in a modern millwork operation, from manufacturing to project management and beyond. Curtis explains how CI isn’t just about fixing machines or tracking parts. It’s about aligning teams, reducing waste across departments, and building a culture that questions how...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Paul Koetke, founder of Koetke Consulting and a Smartsheet Platinum Partner, to explore how growing millwork companies can scale their operations, improve visibility, and reduce manual chaos—all without jumping straight into a massive ERP system. Whether you’re using Excel to schedule projects or relying on texts and spreadsheets to run your team, this episode shows how Smartsheet can b...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Kelly Victor-Burke, co-owner of Burke Architectural Millwork, and Mark Smith, longtime educator and now brand ambassador for Microvellum, to dive deep into a topic shaping the future of our industry: registered apprenticeships. From the challenges of finding and developing talent to creating a nationally recognized pathway for careers in woodworking and millwork, Kelly and Mark break dow...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify Infield, host Jacob Edmond sits down with returning guest Kevin Fassnacht, owner of Fine Point Cabinetry, to explore what it really looks like to level up from a successful one-man shop to running a growing business. Kevin shares the story of acquiring another millwork shop, taking on new overhead, new equipment, and a seasoned craftsman as part of his team, all to push his business to the next stage. This isn’t a highlight reel;...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify Infield, host Jacob Edmond sits down with James Drury, Director of Training and Development at Master Millwork, to talk about the mindset, methods, and mission behind developing new talent in the millwork industry. From humble beginnings building concierge desks during hotel off-seasons to leading Microvellum training at the national level, James shares his journey through the trades—and how it’s shaped his approach to mentoring,...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In Part 2 of this Verify Infield conversation, host Jacob Edmond and guest John Van Erem, Executive VP at Adams Group, dive deeper into the real-world strategies that separate high-profit millwork companies from the rest. This episode goes beyond definitions and digs into plant vs. non-plant produced work, install pitfalls, margin per hour, and the silent killer—slippage. If your shop’s profitability feels like a mystery at the end of every year, this one...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify Infield, host Jacob Edmond sits down with returning guest John VanErem, Executive VP at Adams Group, to break down the financial fundamentals every millwork company should understand, but many overlook. This isn’t just another chat about spreadsheets. John brings real-world clarity to the concepts of revenue recognition, cost tracking, and contribution margin, using real data from the AWI Cost of Doing Business Survey. If you're ...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify Infield, host Jacob Edmond talks with Dave Doran, the inventor of a game-changing Z clip system and the founder of Seven Degree Solutions. After more than 25 years in high-end millwork installation, Dave saw firsthand how much time and effort was wasted shimming wall panels by hand—and decided to do something about it. What began as a sketch in Bluebeam and a prototype in his garage has now become a patented system used by leadin...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of Verify Infield, host Jacob Edmond sits down with the family team behind Rise Up Label—founder Brad Klingman and his daughters Kalli and Hannah—to explore how a simple but powerful solution is changing how cabinet and millwork shops manage labeling. With decades of experience and a heart for service, Brad shares the story of how Rise Up Label was born from a real need in the woodworking industry: finding labels that stick when they’re su...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode of 'Verify in Field,' host Jacob Edmond welcomes back guest Jonah Coleman for a third installment to discuss the significant news of Innergy's acquisition of Microvellum. The episode delves into the strategic and cultural alignment between the two companies, emphasizing their shared focus on the woodworking industry and software solutions. Jonah highlights how the acquisition will enable both companies to address industry challenges more e...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! In this episode, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Negus Negesti, also known as the Millwork Drafter, to discuss his newly released book, 'The Freelancers Guide to Millwork Drafting.' Negus shares his extensive experience in the millwork industry, detailing his journey from a truck loader to an expert drafter with over 20 years of experience. The conversation explores the 'three pillars of drafting'—drafting the right thing, drafting the thing right, and d...

Text us your feedback on the podcast! Welcome to another episode of Verify in Field, the Millwork podcast. In today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Chris Brooks, the Division President at Wood Systems. Chris has had an intriguing journey from starting in the food and beverage industry to becoming a leader in the millwork sector. With experience spanning operations and project management, Chris has been instrumental in integrating two facilities at Wood Systems, bringing toget...