PRO Cabinet Maker

About PRO Cabinet Maker

An original podcast series produced by the Cabinet Makers Association, created specifically for the woodworking industry. We bring together a pair of industry professionals to talk about issues and challenges impacting their businesses, as well as best practices to help combat those obstacles.

Publisher

Cabinet Makers Association

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Oct 2022

Latest episode

14 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

12 of 28 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   14 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Growing the Next Generation of Cabinetmakers

   Host Amy Thrasher-Price interviews Gary LeBlanc about rebuilding the cabinetmaking talent pipeline through education and industry partnerships.

2. 

   23 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   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.

3. 

   24 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   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 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.

Inside a recent episode

Growing the Next Generation of Cabinetmakers

Published 14 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Future is computers. However, we cut those programs. The kids certainly needed them. And what we found today is that students really don't know what we do in the industry. They don't know how the products are created. They don't know some of the cool things that we do. They just don't have an awareness. Not only they don't have an awareness, but their parents don't have an awareness. And so we're just not on the table as an option these days. And I think that's led to where we are today. Yeah, I would agree. I know as a shop owner, I've tried several times to connect with my local schools to be helpful, to see if there's a way in which I can offer some of my expertise or talk to students about what's available in our industry. […]

Who has been a guest on PRO Cabinet Maker

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Gary LeBlanc
• Amy Thrasher-Price
• AJ Durkton
• Bobby Miller
• Jason Norvell

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

18

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact PRO Cabinet Maker

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about PRO Cabinet Maker