Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast

The bank gave Erik Fetzer's family business an ultimatum: change... or risk losing everything. After back-to-back years of major financial losses, a consultant introduced one simple concept that changed the future of the company: Cut your batch size in half. What followed wasn't just a financial turnaround. It became a decades-long journey of continuous improvement that transformed how the company...

How do you stop wasting hours estimating jobs you'll never win? In this episode of the Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast, Dominic Rubino talks with Richard Bergan, Vice President of Bergen Architectural Woodworking, about the systems that helped his architectural millwork company improve estimating, avoid missed bid deadlines, and focus on the projects that fit their business best. Whether you'r...

Are you working so hard that you're missing the people you're doing it for? Most contractors are incredible providers. They'll outwork anyone. They'll keep promises to customers and employees. But sometimes they forget the promises made at home. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Larry Hagner, founder of The Dad Edge, for a powerful conversation about marriage, fatherhood, relationship...

Most contractors and business owners spend years chasing revenue, bigger teams, and more success, only to wonder why they still feel stuck. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with CPA, entrepreneur, and author Spencer Sheinin to discuss the journey from financial success to purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Spencer shares his experience building four businesses, generating over $40 million i...

If you're running a cabinet shop and feel like you're working harder every year but not seeing better results, this episode will hit home. In this conversation, James and Sally Edrington share how buying an Amish cabinet shop without previous ownership experience led them into years of grinding without understanding the numbers behind the business. Through the Checkpoint 90 financial review, they...

If you're struggling with employee turnover, team accountability, leadership challenges, or scaling your contracting business, this episode is packed with practical insights. Dominic Rubino sits down with Pete Ficco, a serial entrepreneur who grew a custom cabinetry company from $3 million to $10 million and now helps contractors improve performance through proven business systems. The conversatio...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Jacob Deis of Formation Millwork to talk about what it really takes to grow a successful commercial millwork company without losing your culture, values, or sanity in the process. They dive deep into estimating strategy, dashboards, throughput tracking, project management capacity, company rebranding, leadership blind spots, and how commercial millwor...

Most contractors work hard every day but never stop to ask if their business is truly building personal wealth and long-term legacy. In this conversation, Dominic Rubino sits down with former Naval submarine commander Gary Pinkerton to break down personal finance for contractors, business owners, and trades professionals. They discuss cash flow, liquidity, investing in your business, real estate i...

Are you running your construction business… or is your business running you? In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Dave Cooper about leadership, systems, innovation, AI, and how contractors can break out of the daily grind and step into true leadership mode. Dave shares lessons from: • Military service • Construction ownership • Scaling a building company • Offsite and modular construction •...

If your business feels like it depends on you for everything… this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dominic Rubino sits down with Brady Lewis to break down how shop owners can grow their business without burning out. Most owners start as skilled tradespeople… But growth forces you into systems, leadership, and structure. This episode shows you how to make that shift. 🔑 What You'll Learn:...

If your business feels like it depends on you for everything… this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dominic Rubino sits down with Brady Lewis to break down how shop owners can grow their business without burning out. Most owners start as skilled tradespeople… But growth forces you into systems, leadership, and structure. This episode shows you how to make that shift. 🔑 What You'll Learn:...

Trade shows can either grow your business… or waste your money. Most contractors show up without a plan and leave disappointed. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with trade show expert Jeff Dahler (30+ years experience) to break down how to actually WIN at trade shows. If you're a cabinet shop owner, remodeler, or contractor, this is for you. 🔧 What You'll Learn: - How to know if a trade...

Most foremen aren't failing… They're being set up to fail. In this episode, we break down what happens when you promote your best worker into a leadership role, without giving them the tools to succeed. We asked 100 foremen what's broken in their role, and the answers revealed the real issues behind burnout, turnover, and lost profit in cabinet shops and contracting businesses. In this episode, we...

Overtime is killing your profits… but not for the reason you think. In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Coach Sebastien Nault to break down what overtime REALLY means inside your business and how to fix it. If your shop is constantly working late, rushing jobs, or struggling with margins… this episode will hit home. 👉 The truth: overtime is just a symptom The real problem is hidden in...

If you're a contractor or shop owner, you WILL exit your business one day. The question is, will you do it right? In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Tim Vorhoff to break down how business owners in construction, cabinetry, and trades can plan their exit and avoid costly mistakes. Most owners are great at building businesses… But when it comes time to sell, they're negotiating against p...

What can contractors learn from a founder who went from bankruptcy to building a major business? A lot. In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Ryan Hogan, co-founder and CEO of Talent Harbor, about failure, leadership, hiring, culture, business systems, and what it really takes to grow without carrying the whole company on your own. Ryan shares the lessons he learned through failed businesses,...

Rework is one of the biggest hidden profit leaks in a cabinet shop, millwork business, or install team. In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Ryan Hindmarsh about: why rework costs more than most owners think how missed details in design, production, packing, and install hurt profit why install should be treated like its own business how meetings, SOPs, and checklists reduce waste why labor,...

How do you charge for change orders without hurting the client relationship? In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Colleen Stanley to unpack one of the most common profit leaks in construction and contracting: poor change order communication. This conversation is especially helpful for construction and contracting business owners who deal with scope creep, client pushback, repeated jobsit...

If you feel busy but the bank account doesn't match… this episode is for you. In this interview, Dominic Rubino sits down with Adam Sylvester (owner of Charlottesville Gutter Pros + host of Jobber's Masters of Home Service) to break down the "magic numbers" contractors should track to protect profit and make better decisions. You'll learn how to stop tracking random metrics and focus on the few nu...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with Helen Vitoria, a key member of the team supporting contractor onboarding, administration, and HR systems inside Contractor Wealth System Helen brings deep experience from real estate development, project management, and HR giving her a unique perspective on the staffing and leadership challenges contractors face every day. If your business feels chaot...

Are you running your shop on numbers… or on feelings? In this episode, Dominic Rubino interviews Lauren Bourland of Custom Source Woodworking and board member of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI). They break down why logic and data must replace emotion when it comes to pricing, labor, and profitability. If you're a cabinet shop owner, remodeler, or trade contractor who feels busy but not...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Jake Latvala, about the most common epoxy production problems foremen face and how to fix them before they turn into rework, delays, or callbacks. Topics covered in this episode: - Deep-pour epoxy vs low-grade epoxy (and why yellowing/cracking happens) - Wood prep: sanding, debarking, flake prevention, edge sealing for fewer bubbles - Flood coat vs oil fi...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino sits down with RJ and Adrienne Folse of Brand Constructors to talk about how contractors can attract better clients, improve profitability, and build long-term stability. They share simple, proven strategies that help trades business owners move from "busy" to "successful." 📌 In this episode, you'll learn: • How to attract higher-quality projects • Why Google revie...

In this episode, Dominic Rubino talks with Steven Moran (CEO of FlexiJet Digital Measuring) about how digital measuring can solve "people problems" by improving data accuracy, making delegation easier, and reducing rework. In this episode, we cover: Why measurement errors create costly go-backs How digital measuring reduces manual entry mistakes Training newer team members faster (without 20 years...

Succession planning is one of the toughest challenges construction and contracting business owners face — especially when family is involved. In this episode, Dominic Rubino is joined by Josh Baron, Harvard Business School professor and family business expert, to break down why succession is so hard and what successful transitions actually require. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why founders str...