Page 17 - CMA PROfiles Winter 2018

What does Kumph love

most about his work?

He doesn’t hesitate
with his answer.

“The relationships –
I thrive on them.”

Kumph will occasionally take the framed Returning to a leaner operation meant manager with a large commercial builder
document off the wall and pass it around that he could go back to being seen to rejoin Premier and provide a bridge to
the room at company meetings as a around the company and setting the the new generation.
reminder that this is the big picture for direction as well as staying in touch with
Premier Builders. New hires are invited to the clients. To stay connected, he likes “It’s rewarding to work with my son,” he
sign the PBI Way at their 60-day review. to walk through the shop and go to the says. “There’s so much that I know innate-
work sites. ly, and as a leader, I need to be able to
During an extremely hot week last share that with him and my employees.”
summer, tensions were rising among the Premier has not yet been faced with the
crews, Kumph recalls. “I pulled everyone challenge of needing to find the work- LEAPS OF FAITH
back to the office one afternoon for an force of the future, “but I think it’s com- A couple of years back, Kumph had to
immediate, mandatory meeting,” he says. ing,” Kumph says. “We talk about it a lot. overcome quite a bit of anxiety among
“We had an ice cream party – it’s hard to We know we need to make a game plan.” his team members about adding a
be upset when you’re eating ice cream.” CNC machine.
They plan to develop relationships
BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER with Wentworth, where he and his son, “Our shop manager, Kurt Slevoski, had
previous CNC experience and was
At one point, the company had 28 Matthew, earned their degrees, as well positive about the idea, but some of us,
employees on board, and it didn’t feel as with The Bennett Street School in including me, were hesitant,” Kumph says.
right; again, he listened to his instincts. Boston (a well-respected carpentry and “The thinking was, ‘We’re a custom shop,
While increasing numbers – of staff or furniture-making trade school) and and a CNC is made for big production
square feet or clients – might indicate other local trade schools. He and his shop with big numbers. We’re craftsmen
success to some, Kumph realized a bigger employees also get the word out among — we don’t need this.’
staff wasn’t a good fit for Premier. their personal contacts when they are
looking for more talent. “Over time, I was convinced that this was
“With 28 people, we started to feel the future of our shop,” he says.
disconnected,” he explains. Now, he keeps Premier has employees who have been
the total number of employees, in the 18- with the company for as long as 24 years They looked at various machines and
22 range; the cabinet shop has a full-time and many others who fall in the 10-15 decided to invest in a high-quality
staff of six employees, and the rest work year range. Kumph is happy that his son C.R. Onsrud machine, a decision he is
in the construction side of the business. Matthew left his position as a project happy with.

CABINET MAKERS ASSOCIATION 15