Page 30 - CMA PROfiles Spring 2019

BUILDING THE FUTURE:
HIRING TALENT

Building relationships

and borrowing good ideas

“Shelley has a great relationship with the
interior design program, and the kitchen
“College isn’t for everyone. Some kids are geared to a trade design class often comes here for tours,”
instead of a classroom.” he says.

—Matt Wehner, Cabinet Concepts + Simply Organized by Design Two current employees came from the
MSU program, and Shelley Wehner found
several strong candidates from MSU when
she began interviewing for a designer
Shelley and Matt Wehner’s investment the time comes to recruit for openings position recently; one of those will be
in developing relationships with local in sales/project management, design and starting at Cabinet Concepts soon.
schools has helped them solve the in the shop.
challenge of finding and hiring skilled The Wehners both went to college, and
workers. “We have a great shop program in our they enjoy having a great relationship with
local public schools,” says Matt Wehner.
The couple, owners of Cabinet Concepts “I’ve opened up my shop for tours to MSU, but they believe there are many
paths to a great education.
+ Simply Organized by Design in Spring- show students the potential that is out
field, Missouri, has looked to high school there, but selfishly, this has been helpful “College isn’t for everyone,” he says.
shop programs and to the interior design in recruiting my next batch of employees. “Some kids are geared to a trade instead
program at Missouri State University of a classroom.”
(MSU) for talent. “I’ve had really good luck hiring
students who came through these shop In keeping with that belief, Cabinet
The Wehners’ involvement with these programs,” he says. “I have one working Concepts is a big fan of “Build My
local programs benefits the students and for me full-time and one working for me Future,” a program started by the Home
instructors, of course, but they say it’s part-time because he also goes to school Builders Association (HBA) in Springfield
their company that really benefits when at the local community college.” that has since gone national. The

28 PROFILES SPRING 2019