Henrybuilt is not your typical system manufacturer, and this isn’t your typical job posting.
I’m Luke Skibba, the Director of Field Operations and Logistics at Henrybuilt.
In 2002, after years working for my father’s general contracting business, I began my career in commercial and residential relocation. Always looking for a challenge, I was intrigued by the similarities between homebuilding and relocation. Each project or move had its unique set of challenges, and both situations can be very high-stress, life-changing decisions. It soon became my mission to do what my father has always done - make that stressful situation as enjoyable as possible, never cut corners, and always deliver on your promises. As I learned more of the relocation & logistics business, I decided to relocate myself to Seattle and become an independent contractor to better serve my customers. This is where I found a kindred business in Henrybuilt.
In 2004, Henrybuilt became my new client, and I was immediately struck by their incredible product and passionate people. Every time I would show up to package and ship a Henrybuilt system, it was like they were watching their child go off the college. I was honored by their trust, and found it inspiring to see another business with so much pride for what they do. We had a saying “Always do it right, or make it right.” It was clear that Henrybuilt followed this same mantra.
Over the next 5 years, I would tend to Henrybuilt’s shipping needs weekly and sometimes on a daily basis. I had the opportunity to serve many other shops, but none compared to the quality, cleanliness, and passion of Henrybuilt. I was fortunate to also meet and serve countless clients from all walks of life in my relocation business - entry level to the wealthiest people in the world. One thing rang true for all of them… they were all simply looking for the most trustworthy and high-quality service that would make their experience as stress-free as possible.
In 2009, I had reached a point in my business where I was interested in moving on to the next challenge and Henrybuilt was also seeking a new logistics manager - at the time the logistics manager also handled most aspects of post-production customer service. Seeing an ideal opportunity and knowing I could make a difference both for Henrybuilt and their clients, I was awarded the position and accepted. Though our operational methods have evolved over the years, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect match.
Over the next few years and a similar trajectory to my relocation career, Henrybuilt incrementally took more control of logistics and installation. Development of our proprietary shipping container system, reducing packaging waste, building installation steps into our products, and providing visual installation guides have all been essential to delivering the best kitchen system available. This has afforded me the ability to focus on making the experience of working with Henrybuilt exceptional for our clients.
In our industry ‘systems’, ‘cabinets’, or ‘millwork’ are often commoditized. World-class customer service isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for homeowners or the trade. Consistently exceeding this expectation, often referred to as the ‘easiest part of the renovation’ has to be my greatest reward. Henrybuilt has created an environment built on a foundation using methods not typical of other system manufacturers. This solid foundation enables our people to think outside of the box, provide impressive and confident customer service, and work together without barriers to collaborate. Every time a client speaks with me, I know that I have the full support of and access to the expertise of every single person on our team (and they are incredible). Our clients know this, and it’s what sets our Field Operations team apart.
At Henrybuilt, it’s not about cabinets. We design a space that fits the function, lifestyle, and desires of our clients. We talk about their family, their need for convenient and flexible spaces, their favorite meal to cook, how they use their kitchen now and in the future. Field Operations is all about bringing that design to life - accurately, simply, and as stress-free as possible. Coordinating with a multitude of trades and the homeowner in a way that feels just right and in control amidst the fundamental chaos of construction.
Field Operations is the gateway between the results in the field and the rest of the business. We succeed by delivering a world-class customer service experience that results in a space worthy of all our customer’s expectations. We contribute directly to the success of Henrybuilt by providing timely, thoughtful feedback from the field, suggesting improvements to our product and service, and by making sure there is no question to our clients and trades that the best choice that can be made for any project is Henrybuilt.
Continual product development, innovation, new product categories, and the most incredible clients and projects in the world, keeps us moving forward and makes Henrybuilt one of the most exciting places to work. Our people are the most driven and passionate experts in their fields. My story of opportunity is just one of many at Henrybuilt, and with our continuous growth into new and exciting areas the opportunities will continue to expand and be available to anybody with the ambition to reach for them.
If you are passionate about delivering world-class service worthy of our products and would like to create your own Henrybuilt story with an incredible team, please get in touch.