Verify In Field: The Millwork Podcast

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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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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 machine-ready CAM output, SWOOD is giving custom millwork shops the tools to take full control of their workflows from design to machining. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether a fully integrated CAD/CAM solution is worth the switch bor whether your current software is holding your team back this episode offers a clear look into what’s possible. 

About Our Guest 

Bruno Calatayud is the National Director for North America at EFICAD, the developers behind SWOOD, a fully integrated CAD/CAM solution for woodworking built on SolidWorks. With a background in mechanical engineering, Bruno has spent over a decade training technical teams, working with international partners, and helping shops streamline complex production with 3D-driven automation. Based in Boston since 2019, he’s now leading SWOOD’s expansion across North America. 

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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 SCHUBOX. Designed for real-world millwork and cabinetry shops, this compact, catalytic IR curing system slashes drying times, eliminates bottlenecks, and makes finishing predictable. 

Whether you're struggling with air-dry lag, overwhelmed by rework, or just tired of crowding your shop with drying racks, this episode offers insight into how smarter curing can transform production flow and profitability. 

About Our Guest 

Ryan Randell is the National Director at Elevated Finishing and a long-time expert in the world of finishing and coatings. His journey, from remodeling contractor roots to application engineering at Stiles Machinery, gave him hands-on insight into the real challenges millwork and cabinetry shops face daily. Now, he leads Elevated Finishing’s mission to bring European-style catalytic IR technology to the U.S. market through their signature product, the SCHUBOX. 

Where to Learn More 

• Elevated Finishing Website: https://www.elevatedfinishing.com/
• Social Media: 
  • Elevated Finishings LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevated-finishing/
  • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElevatedFinishing
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557506270777
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatedfinishing/
  • Ryan Randell's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-randell-b086749b/

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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 episode is a powerful call to action for millwork leaders, project managers, and shop owners who keep asking, “Where do I find good people?” but haven’t asked, “How am I helping create them?” 

If your shop is struggling with turnover, skill gaps, or a lack of promotable team members, this is required listening. 

Where to Learn More 

• Connect with Jacob in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobedmond/
• Read the DuckWorks Blog: https://duckworksmw.com/blog/

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 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 at ISEC and USA Millwork, where he scaled teams, developed internal training processes, and built recruiting systems from scratch. Now, through Microcap, he helps millwork businesses develop smarter hiring strategies and fractional HR support tailored to their stage of growth. 

Where to Learn More 

• Matt Swatek: 
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-swatek-71114983/
• Micro-Cap Solutions: 
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micro-cap-solutions/
  • Website: https://micro-capsolutions.com/
• Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kD7fZ84XfrPNydWlNZHo5aqt_q1O1Z_T/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111093157909006770221&rtpof=true&sd=true

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 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://craftsmanengineering.com/
• Contact Bruce: 
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-chezem-draw/
  • Patreon: https://Patreon.com/PeelingbackCabinetVision
  • A Cabinet Vision Minute:  https://www.youtube.com/@aCVMinute
  • Email: [email protected]
• Other important Links: 
  • Essential Cabinet Vision Packages: Craftsman Engineering CV Packages – Essential Cabinet Vision Packages
  • A Useful Checklist: Creating and Documenting A Job in Cabinet Vision in 40 Steps | Craftsman Woodworks Engineering Services
  • Blog: Craftsman Engineering Blog | Craftsman Woodworks Engineering Services

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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: [email protected]
• AWI:
  • Website: www.awinet.org 
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/architectural-woodwork-institute/posts/?feedView=all
  • AWI National Convention: https://member.awinet.org/s/event/a1yUO000000s3c1YAA/2025-awi-annual-convention
  • AWI Education Programs: https://awinet.org/education/
• Education: 
  • Free high school year 1 woodworking curriculum: https://library.kccte.pittstate.edu/curriculum/299  
    • (this is intended for educator access only)
  • KCCTE Website: https://kccte.pittstate.edu/
• Skills USA
  • Skills USA Website: https://www.skillsusa.org/
  • State-level SkillsUSA Cabinetmaking Contest coordinators:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19iVAz_0yWTkm6Cgh__xmpVih-wkWpnRXxHG_IY_so_g/edit?usp=sharing
  • If you wish to learn more, email Adria Salvatore at [email protected]

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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.com
• Skot’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skotwaldron/
• Book: Unlocked – A 52 Week Guide for the Intentional Leader
  • Find it here: Skot's Book: Unlocked, a 52 Week Guide for the Intentional Leader. 
• Podcast: Unlocked with Skot Waldron (available on all platforms)
  • Apple Music: https://apple.co/3ZCgTCB
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@skotwaldron
• Review Skot’s trainings and talks: https://www.talkadot.com/s/skotwaldron

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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 things are done, so processes evolve alongside the business.

Whether you’re a shop owner trying to reduce rework, or a PM drowning in inefficiencies, this episode lays out the mindset, tools, and cultural shifts needed to get real traction.

 About Our Guest

Curtis Garrard is the Continuous Improvement Manager at Stevens Industries, where he leads cross-functional initiatives to optimize processes across the entire quote-to-cash cycle. With a background in manufacturing and automation, Curtis blends hands-on operations knowledge with a deep understanding of lean principles, digital tools, and people-focused leadership. He’s especially passionate about building systems that support sustainable growth and smarter work, not just faster output.

Where to Learn More

• Curtis Garrard on LinkedIn
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisgarrard/
• Email Curtis
  [email protected]
• Stevens Industries Website
  https://www.stevensind.com/

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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 bridge the gap between where you are and where you’re headed. With real-world examples from shops and field teams, Paul breaks down how to set up smart, flexible workflows that grow with your business.

About Our Guest

Paul Koetke is the founder of Koetke Consulting, a Smartsheet Platinum Partner focused on helping growing companies design smarter, leaner operations. A former Customer Success Manager at Smartsheet, Paul specializes in building custom solutions that streamline project management, resource planning, CRM workflows, and more, without the complexity of full-scale ERP systems. His team works with manufacturers, construction firms, and mid-size businesses to build flexible systems that support real-world

Where to Learn More

Koetke Consulting Website: https://www.koetkeconsulting.com
Paul’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/
Smartsheet Website: https://www.smartsheet.com/

 Watch Paul's previous Verify in Field Episode: https://duckworksmw.com/podcasts/the-power-of-smartsheet-streamlining-project-management-with-paul-koetke/?utm_source=Buzzsprout&utm_medium=podcast

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