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Betting on Yourself in the Millwork Industry 

In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Chris McClelland, Principal of Parliament Millwork, to explore the unconventional journey that led him from touring indie rock musician to running a modern millwork shop in Ottawa.

Chris shares how growing up in his dad’s woodshop sparked his early love for tools, how he built his first painting and renovation business straight out of high school, and how he learned new trades the way many entrepreneurs do, by saying yes first and figuring it out later.

From swapping his first light fixture after a weekend of YouTube research, to touring the world in a signed band, to walking out of a commercial construction job after writing his resignation letter on the spot, Chris’ story is about calculated risk, momentum, and knowing when to bet on yourself.

The turning point came when he saw how powerful drawings and visualization were in high level commercial projects. That realization pushed him deeper into millwork, where he applied his signature formula, do a job, buy a tool, repeat. What started as small built ins and IKEA installs eventually turned into a full commercial shop, a 5,000 square foot facility, and a complete restart across the country.

This episode dives into creativity, business, risk tolerance, and what it really means to build something from the ground up.

About Our Guest

Chris McClelland is the Principal of Parliament Millwork, a modern millwork shop based in the Ottawa Gatineau region. His background spans residential renovations, commercial construction, music touring, hospitality, and entrepreneurship.

Before founding Parliament Millwork, Chris ran his own renovation company in Vancouver, worked on high end commercial projects, and spent much of his twenties touring internationally in an indie rock band. His hands on mindset, willingness to learn quickly, and comfort with risk have shaped his approach to business and millwork.

Today, he leads a growing shop focused on process, tooling, visualization, and delivering high quality millwork at scale.
Where To Learn More

Parliament Millwork
 https://parliamentmillwork.com 

Parliament Milwork´s Instagram: @parliamentmillwork 

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In this episode, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Weston Peters, second generation steward of Peters Cabinetry, a custom cabinet shop based in Ohio. Weston shares his journey from growing up in his father’s shop to stepping into leadership and helping modernize the business through systems, automation, and strategic thinking.

With nearly two decades in the trade, Weston reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped both his career and the direction of the company. From investing in CNC technology to outsourcing installs and redefining their product offerings, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to evolve a family business while honoring craftsmanship. Together, they explore topics such as automation versus tradition, empowering teams, process driven growth, and building a company that is sustainable without losing its identity.

Join us as we explore the mindset behind scaling a small shop with intention and clarity.

About Our Guest

Weston Peters is the second generation leader of Peters Cabinetry, a custom cabinet and millwork shop serving residential clients in Ohio. After gaining experience in construction and other trades, Weston returned to the family business in his early twenties with a vision to build systems, adopt technology, and grow strategically.

Over the past 18 years, he has helped expand the company’s capabilities through CNC integration, process development, outsourcing partnerships, and team empowerment. Weston is passionate about improving shop systems, developing skilled craftsmen, and helping the next generation see opportunity in the trades. His leadership blends respect for craftsmanship with a forward thinking approach to business.
Where to Learn More

Peters Cabinetry
 https://peterscabinetry.com

Connect with Weston Peters on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weston-peters-29023b52/ 

Weston´s Blog: https://www.peterscabinetry.com/blog/before-you-buy-a-cnc

https://www.peterscabinetry.com/custom-select

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In this solo episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond reflects on the first ever Engineering Summit at AWI Spring Leadership in Las Vegas. What started as an idea to fill a long standing gap in the industry quickly turned into a record setting event with more than 200 attendees focused on one topic that has long been overlooked at conferences: Engineering.

Jacob shares where the idea came from, why engineering has historically been left out of industry conversations, and how this summit became a turning point for both AWI and the millwork community. More than just an event recap, this episode dives into the deeper issue facing shops across the country. Engineering is the bottleneck, and most companies are still trying to figure out how to solve it.

About This Episode

Unlike a typical interview format, this is a transparent and reflective solo session. Jacob walks through the inspiration behind the summit, the planning process, the speakers who helped bring it to life, and the unexpected lessons that came out of it. From engineering throughput and training challenges to AI adoption and leadership evolution, this conversation offers a candid look at where the industry stands and where it needs to go.

Where to Learn More

AWI National Website: https://awinet.org/  
Verify in Field Podcast: https://vifpodcast.com/

Jacob´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobedmond/ 

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In this episode of  Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Tovi Spero, Education Director at the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS), to explore the critical role of education in shaping the future of the woodworking and millwork industries. With a career rooted in teaching and technical education, Tovi shares how his journey from high school STEM instructor to industry advocate has positioned him at the forefront of workforce development.

Together, they discuss the growing talent shortage, the importance of early exposure to manufacturing careers, and how initiatives such as student competitions, CAD design programs, and partnerships with organizations like SkillsUSA are helping to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals. This episode offers valuable insights for shop owners, educators, and industry leaders who want to ensure the long-term success of the wood manufacturing sector.

About Our Guest

Tovi Spero is the Education Director at the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) and a lifelong educator dedicated to advancing career and technical education. His professional journey began as a high school STEM teacher, where he developed a passion for hands-on learning and student mentorship.

At AWFS, Tovi leads educational outreach initiatives, organizes the education conference at the AWFS Fair, supports the Fresh Wood student competition, and facilitates public policy advocacy for the woodworking industry. He also collaborates with organizations such as SkillsUSA to connect students with real-world career opportunities. Through his work, Tovi is committed to strengthening the talent pipeline and ensuring the continued growth of the wood manufacturing industry.

Where to Learn More

• AWFS Website: https://www.awfs.org 
• AWFS Fair: https://www.awfsfair.org 
• SkillsUSA: https://www.skillsusa.org 
• Design-it-Digital student CAD competition:  https://subscribepage.io/design-it-digital-2026
• Connect with Tovi in LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tovi-spero-physics/

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In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with John Mercure, President of Raydeo Enterprises, to explore four decades of leadership in architectural metals, millwork, and signage. From humble beginnings in neon signs to delivering complex scopes on stadiums, high rises, and major commercial projects, John shares the lessons that shaped his company and his philosophy on building.

With nearly 40 years at the helm of Raydeo, John has navigated economic downturns, evolving general contractor dynamics, major technological shifts, and the increasing complexity of contract risk. Through it all, one principle has remained constant. Deliver the job.

As John puts it, “One of our things is we've never failed. I ain't gonna tell you, we made money on everything, but we've never failed.” 

About Our Guest

John Mercure is the President and founder of Raydeo Enterprises, a multidisciplinary fabrication company specializing in architectural metals, millwork, and signage for large scale commercial construction. What began as a neon sign operation in the early eighties evolved into a full scope fabrication firm serving stadiums, hotels, high rises, museums, and corporate environments across the United States 

Over the years, John expanded Raydeo through strategic reinvestment in technology, facilities, training, and people. Today, the company operates with approximately 85 to 100 employees in a 72,000 square foot facility, focused on complex projects that demand coordination, creativity, and precision 

Where To Learn More

Raydeo Enterprises: https://www.raydeo.com
John Mercure´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mercure-b081406/ 

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In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Jenny Gayfer, owner of Top 40 Woodworks, an OAC certified commercial millwork company based in Canada. Jenny shares her unconventional journey from vendor representative to consultant to ultimately acquiring the very company she once supplied materials to.

With more than two decades of industry exposure, Jenny brought a rare perspective into ownership. She had seen the best and worst of millwork operations across Canada, understood the competitive landscape, and knew exactly where Top 40 stood in the market. What followed was not a quick overhaul, but a deliberate transformation focused on culture, systems, visibility, and long term strategy.

About Our Guest

Jenny Gayfer is the owner of Top 40 Woodworks, a predominantly commercial architectural millwork company with long standing national contracts and a growing multifamily presence. Before acquiring Top 40, Jenny spent over 10 years as a decorative surface and materials vendor representative, working closely with millwork shops across Canada. Top 40 was one of her largest accounts, giving her deep operational insight long before she stepped into ownership 

After years of consulting and business development for the company, Jenny and her husband acquired Top 40 and began a comprehensive internal restructuring. Since then, she has led the implementation of an ERP system, adopted EOS from the book Traction, redefined the leadership team, and repositioned the company for scalable growth.
What You Will Learn

1. Why culture must come before systems
    Jenny’s first priority was not software or machinery. It was people. She personally interviewed every employee to understand strengths, mindset, and growth potential before making structural changes.
2. The underestimated challenge of change management
    Implementing an ERP system while restructuring a company revealed that the hardest part of transformation is not technology, it is helping people adapt.
3. How visibility changes everything
    Before ERP implementation, scheduling lived in one employee’s head 
4. The power of combining ERP and EOS
    Energy provided operational control and data visibility. EOS provided communication rhythm, accountability, and alignment. Together, they created structure across both production and leadership.
5. Why automation alone is not the competitive edge
    Jenny believes automation will become standard across the industry. The real differentiator will be communication, collaboration, and understanding general contractors, developers, and integrated project delivery systems.
6. From technician mindset to strategic leadership
    Drawing from The E Myth and Traction, Jenny explains the difference between being an excellent technician and becoming an effective manager or visionary leader.
7. Forecasting as a survival tool
    With long lead times in commercial projects, the ability to analyze market trends, housing cycles, tariffs, and political shifts is critical to steering a millwork company toward stability and growth.
8. Why custom millwork is here to stay
    Despite offshore competition, Jenny believes there will always be a need for custom architectural millwork because every building footprint demands tailored solutions.

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In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Liz Ingebrigtsen, Project Manager at Sprovieri’s Custom Counters and current Chair of the Board for the Architectural Woodwork Institute. With more than 15 years in the industry, Liz shares her journey from starting at the front desk during the height of the recession to becoming a respected industry leader at both the chapter and national level.

Together, they explore the evolving role of AWI, the importance of industry involvement, and the real opportunities available for young professionals in millwork. This conversation goes beyond standards and titles. It is about ownership, workforce development, mentorship, and building a sustainable future for the trades.

About Our Guest

Liz Ingebrigtsen is a Project Manager at Sprovieri’s Custom Counters in the Chicago area and the current Chair of the Board for the Architectural Woodwork Institute. She has served for years on the Chicago Chapter board and recently stepped into national leadership.

Liz began her career in the middle of the 2009 recession, taking a front desk position at a countertop company that would eventually become her long term professional home. Over the years she grew alongside the company as it expanded from residential work into large scale commercial fabrication. Through her involvement in AWI, she found not just professional growth but community, mentorship, and purpose within the millwork industry.

Where to Learn More

Architectural Woodwork Institute
 https://awinet.org

Sprovieri’s Custom Counters
 https://sprovieris.com

Connect with Lizz Ingebrigtsen on LinkedIn
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizingebrigtsen/ 

Blog: https://vifpodcast.com/leadership-and-legacy-in-millwork-with-liz-ingebrigtsen/↗ 

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In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Madison Fuzzell, Chief Operating Officer of Integrity Architectural Millwork, to explore what it looks like to step into leadership within a second generation millwork business.

Madison shares her unconventional path into the industry, beginning with a corporate career in international supply chain and operations before joining her family’s millwork company. Together, they discuss the realities of succession planning, earning trust in a legacy shop, and introducing modern systems into an established operation. This conversation offers a candid look at leadership transitions, industry change, and the future of millwork from the perspective of a new generation of leaders.

About Our Guest

Madison Fuzzell is the Chief Operating Officer at Integrity Architectural Millwork, a Nashville based millwork company founded by her father more than 40 years ago. Although she grew up around the business, Madison initially pursued a career outside the construction industry, studying business and working in international grocery supply chain operations in Germany and the United States.

After years of experience building systems, managing logistics, and driving operational efficiency, Madison joined Integrity Architectural Millwork during a pivotal transition period. Since then, she has helped modernize processes, implement scheduling and documentation systems, and guide the company through growth, a new facility move, and leadership succession. She is also actively involved in AWI and industry organizations that support collaboration, education, and workforce development.

 

Where to learn more

Integrity Architectural Millwork website
https://www.integritymillwork.net/ 

Integrity Architectural Millwork Linkedln
https://www.linkedin.com/company/integrity-architectural-millwork-inc./ 

Connect with Madison Fuzzell on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonfuzzell/ 

Podcast blog:https://vifpodcast.com/leading-the-next-generation-of-millwork-with-madison-fuzzell/?utm_source=Buzzprout&utm_medium=Podcast 

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Better Drawings, Better Builds: Jobsite Lessons with Katelyn Rossier

In this episode of Verify In Field, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Katelyn Rossier, a licensed architect in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the founder of MentorDINO, a training platform built to close the gap between architecture school and real-world practice. Katelyn shares how spending more than half of her career on job sites reshaped the way she thinks about drawings, detailing, construction administration, and the relationships that make projects run smoother.

Together, they unpack a challenge both architects and trades feel every day: the disconnect between design and construction. From “design intent” that gets misunderstood to drawings overloaded with information that still miss the details people need to build, this conversation is a practical look at how teams can collaborate better and why mentorship is the real solution to the industry’s training problem. 

About Our Guest

Katelyn Rossier is a licensed architect and the founder of MentorDINO, an education and mentoring platform designed to help architects strengthen their technical skills, communication, and jobsite confidence. After working in both small firms and large, multi-location environments, she saw firsthand how understaffing, burnout, and limited training impact drawing quality and construction outcomes.

Today, Katelyn runs two businesses: MentorDINO, and her architecture firm, Rossier Architecture and Design, bringing together field experience, practical detailing, and mentorship to help architects become stronger partners to contractors and trades.
 

Where to Learn More

MentorDINOS website link: https://academy.mentordino.com/pages/mentordino-home-page

MentorDINOSLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mentordino-llc/

Katelyn Rossier LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyn-rossier/

MentorDINOS  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mentorDINO

Find out more about this episode's sponsor, Skillya: https://skill-ya.com/?utm_source=VIF%20Podcast 

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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 today’s cabinetmakers to the nationwide push for better woodworking programs in schools, Amanda brings clarity to the talent crisis many millwork shops face. Together, Jacob and Amanda explore how associations, schools, and shop owners can work together to build sustainable career pathways for the next generation.  

About Our Guest 

Amanda Conger began her career in marketing at Stiles Machinery, where she discovered a passion for industry-wide collaboration and association leadership. That curiosity led her into executive roles first with CMA, then ACSP, and finally the National Woods Board. Through these organizations, she supports small and mid-size shops with education, networking, best practices, and crucially—access to a trained future workforce. 

Where to Learn More 

• Cabinet Makers Association: https://www.cabinetmakers.org/ 
• Association of Closet & Storage Professionals:  https://closets.org/ 
• National Woods Board: https://nationalwoodsboard.org/

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