Page 10 - CMA PROfiles Spring 2015

DK Cabinets … continued from page 9 “There are so many people in the CMA with wealth of knowledge
who are willing to share it with you, whether in seminars or online in
Derek’s projects consist of residential woodworking: kitchen cabi-
the CMA forums. I have often said that even though I am a one-man
nets, entertainment centers, mantels, closets, and garage cabinets. A shop, I have the knowledge and experience of thousands behind me.
man of quality, the woodworker says once he finds a good product Whenever I’ve sought out the advice of my CMA brothers, I have
or method, he sticks with it. Examples include his choice in finishing
never been disappointed with the response.”
products—“I’ve been using waterborne products from M.L. Camp-
bell and General Finishes for about 4 years now because of their low Today, business continues to be steady for Derek, just like the man
VOCs and minimal impact on the environment,”—hardware—“I’m himself. “I never have a shortage of calls coming in,” he says, “but
a Blum guy. I generally stick with their line of hinges and slides on unlike my early years, I focus on taking only the volume of work
all my projects,”—and construction method—“My typical assembly I can comfortably complete in a timely manner.” As for the future,
method is glue and screws. I will usually nail my cases together for Derek will continue to move in the direction of his dream by giving
alignment then finish with screws. This may sound like over kill but his best workmanship on every project. He says, “Only God truly
I just like the way screws pull a cabinet together.” The choice in ma- knows what the future holds for DK Cabinets, but for the short term
terial is dependent on the client’s preferences, but Derek says he likes I will continue to build my business and reputation in my area by
to use materials with a ‘classic core blank’ because they are “more building quality custom cabinets and improving every process. I
stable than a ply core and I get a pure, clean surface for my finishes. believe if I’m successful in doing this, I will be positioned nicely to
It costs a little more up front but it sure beats making cabinets out of transition to a full time cabinet shop in the next few years.” ❖
potato chips.”

As Derek was transitioning from a part time cabinet builder to a pro-
fessional and business owner, he decided to join the CMA. “I joined
while at my first AWFS show in Las Vegas about 8 years ago … and
I was pretty intimidated,” he admitted. “I thought I was in over my
head. After all, I was a one man shop and only doing it part time at
that! But I knew that if I wanted to grow my business and be suc-
cessful, even at my level, I had to find some back up. Proverbs 24:6
reminds me that ‘…victory is won through many advisers.’” Derek
found the support he was looking for at the CMA. “After speaking
to some of the guys at the CMA booth that year, I felt like I was in
good company,” he said. “I started to feel at home knowing there
were so many people like me, and I have bonded with many fellow
members because we share some of the same struggles and issues as
‘one-manners.’” Derek says he has also benefited greatly from the
classes and seminars presented by CMA speakers at the big shows.

10 PROFILES • Volume 15 • Issue 2, 2015 • www.cabinetmakers.org