DETROIT, Mich. – Business tips, trends and best practices were shared among an estimated 135 attendees from 86 companies at the Cabinet Makers Association’s 2025 national conference, held Oct. 1-3 in Detroit, Michigan.

The CMA represents small- to mid-size shops and provides networking and education opportunities to help companies grow. The association includes cabinet shops, millworkers, furniture makers, and suppliers throughout the United States and Canada.

The meeting kicked off Wednesday night with the presentation of the 15th annual Wood Diamond Awards. The awards recognize excellence in craftsmanship, design, and execution across the cabinetmaking and woodworking industry. Gillpatrick Woodworks of Overland Park, Kansas, received the Best of, Best Overall award for its Residential Kitchen: Frameless Over $50,000 project. Read more award-winning projects. 

Michael Feuz of ITR Economics kicked off Thursday’s sessions with a keynote on the economic landscape. Feuz discussed the trends in inflation, interest rates, labor markets, and economic cycles, and offered attendees practical insights to help them make informed business decisions.

Two breakout sessions followed. Who’s Next? Tackling the Workforce Shortage, by Gary LeBlanc of Richelieu Hardware, shared information and strategies to address the growing workforce gap and attract the next generation of cabinetmakers. The second, Navigating Relationships with Design Professionals, given by Joe Knobbe of Stiles Machinery, offered tips for strengthening communication and collaboration with designers to deliver more successful projects.

The closing day keynote by Marc Sanderson, Innergy, drew plenty of engagement from the audience. Sanderson provided actionable ideas to optimize companies’ recruitment, retention, and team performances, to build a stronger, long-term workforce.

Friday morning capped off with two breakout sessions. In Lean Bootcamp, Gregory Paolini of GPD Design offered tips and provided examples of how to apply lean manufacturing principles and how it can benefit your company. In the session Built to Last: Succession Planning for Your Business, Patrick Conner of Husch Blackwell shared strategies for owners to ensure their business continues to survive and thrive beyond the current generation.

Plant tours showcase best practices
Four plant tours on Thursday and Friday afternoons offered attendees a firsthand look at some of the technologies and best practices in place at area shops.
• JB Cutting: Based in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, JB Cutting produces cabinet doors and drawer fronts in a variety of door styles, in 3DL, 5-piece profile-wrapped and thermofused laminate (TFL), for the cabinetry, closets, and other markets. The company also offers mouldings, countertops, and other products. Watch a video of the high-tech plant. 

• Bakes & Kropp Fine Cabinetry: Using advanced technology, the Mt. Clemens, Michigan-based custom cabinetry manufacturer crafts from locally sourced hardwoods. The process involves design, manufacturing, assembly, and installation, with most projects completed in 8-12 weeks. 

• Richelieu Hardware: The company is a Montreal, Quebec-based importer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialty hardware and complementary products. At its Mt. Clemens distribution facility, attendees got a firsthand look at some of Richelieu’s core product lines, including cabinet hardware and accessories, fasteners, lighting solutions, surfaces, panels, and edgebanding. 

• Burke Architectural Millwork/Bespoke Closets: Based in Livonia, Michigan, BAM designs and manufactures custom cabinetry, bars, booths, paneling and millwork for commercial and high-end residential environments. Launched in June 2023, Bespoke Closets and Organized Spaces offers luxury European-inspired designs, which are manufactured at the company’s facility. Attendees also toured the “Casa di Burke” Design Studio. 

• Elliott Woodworking: Using advanced technology, the Pontiac, Michigan-based components manufacturer specializes in custom cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and drawer boxes in a variety of species/materials, profiles, hardware, and finishing options, as well as other products. Roughly 200,000 board feet of lumber are processed annually at the 25,000-square-foot facility. 

For more information on the CMA and upcoming events, visit cabinetmakers.org.