Page 22 - CMA PROfiles Fall 2019

“A lot of people think that it’s going to be PREACHING WHAT YOU PRACTICE
easy to run a cabinetry company because Brady Miller couldn’t be happier with the
they’ve gone to business school or decision he made to join Milarc instead of Joining the
owned a business in a different industry,” finishing up his college degree.
he explains. “In fact, you really need to “I loved being able to come to a smaller Conversation
understand cabinetry, and I think it’s company and help change it and work
usually easier to learn the business skills with employees who have helped
as you go. That is a jolt of realty we’ve change it with us,” he reflects. “I love the Milarc joined the Cabinet Makers
seen in other companies camaraderie that we have. If something’s Association after learning more
that have been bought by people outside not working or something goes wrong, about it at the Executive Briefing
the industry.” we’re all going to work toward fixing it.” Conference (EBC) held in San Jose
If you don’t have the business know-how Miller and the other leaders at the in April.
to run a cabinetry company efficiently, company focus their attention on the “The small-to-medium-shop focus
start small and grow organically. individuals who come through the door was appealing,” Brady Miller says.
looking to join the team – not on their “We started small and now we’re a
“If your goal is to own your own business, higher education or other credentials.
then you have to go for it,” he says. “You little bigger than small! The sense
have to take risks or you’ll always work for “There is such a push to get a college edu- of community and sharing with
other people and have that ‘what if?’ in cation,” he says, “but the majority of the peers is exactly what we’ve been
the back of your mind. people we hire don’t have one, and most missing. We’ve always had to try to
are long-term employees. We tell poten- figure things out on our own.
“My dad doesn’t like the business part – he tial employees, ‘You don’t need a degree –
loves going into the shop and figuring out we can develop your skills from within.’ “We want to have relationships
how to make things faster and easier,” “You hear and read about the with like-sized companies so we
Miller says. “That’s his passion.” So Matt manufacturing industry having such a can bounce ideas off each other.
Miller found partners who wanted to focus bad reputation, and it shouldn’t,” he We believe that there are so many
on the aspects he wasn’t passionate about. good ideas and problems that have
adds. “You have such great opportunities been solved at Milarc that we can
If his dad hadn’t been willing to take leap and can get into a business early and share with other shops, and in turn,
of faith to start a business, Miller says, help develop it rather than coming in we can learn and grow with their
“we wouldn’t have this amazing family of with no experience other than college, knowledge.”
employees who are able to provide for which doesn’t usually translate to real-life
their families.” experience.”

CABINET MAKERS ASSOCIATION 21