Cynthia and Don Serles -- owners of Santiam Cabinets in Albany, Oregon
Just down Three Lakes Road in Albany you'll find a shop. A cabinet shop, to be more specific. As you open the door, a nicely remodeled kitchen with laminate countertops and cherry stained cabinets catches your eye.
A showroom.
To your right behind a desk is secretary Cynthia Serles. She takes phone calls, coordinates installations, and helps customers design their dream cabinets, all while the buzz of expensive machinery hums in the background.
Santiam Cabinets is a full-service, family-run cabinet shop that creates custom cabinets for contractors and homeowners. Any shape, stain color, finish, and design, they can create for you in their shop. Owners Cynthia and Don Serles recently celebrated 20 years in business at the beginning of May with a quick nod to how fast it’s all flown by.
“It’s important, I think, to have it family-related because we are both on the same page. It’s a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice, but it has its rewards,” said Cynthia Serles.
Cynthia is one half of a duo that includes her and her husband Don Serles. The two met in 1993 and tied the knot in 2000.
“We have worked together and lived together and everything since 2000. For 18 years, and we rarely fight!” Cynthia said.
The Serles’s live on a 38-acre farm with cows, chickens, pigs, dogs and a cat.
“I take walks every morning and I don't have to leave my property,” said Cynthia Serles, who balances daily chores on the farm and work at the shop.
To the left of the secretary desk, behind a door, sits a passionately soft spoken Don Serles. The “Boss Man,” according to his wife.
Don Serles has been making custom cabinets since 1986.
In high school, Don was interested in woodworking, so throughout his junior and senior year he centered his class schedule around his craft and obtained a vocational education.
Once graduated, Don was looking for an opportunity to utilize his skill set. The vocational director at his old high school got him an interview at a local cabinet shop where he was hoping to make a good impression. He wasn’t, however, expecting the employer to forget about the interview.
“I did happen to just catch him when he was leaving. I got in his truck and went to a job site with him,” said Don Serles.
The two conversed to and from the job site, and on Oct. 8, 1986, Don was employed.
“He walked me out to the shop, I had my best clothes on, and I started on the spot. He took me out to the sanding bench and I started sanding that day.”
For the past 32 years, Don Serles has been mastering his craft and pleasing customers throughout the area.
“They did an exceptional job and completed the project within the agreed time frame,” said customer Lynda Capel. “They even took the time to locate the Formica we wanted even though it had been discontinued. They were a pleasure to work with.”
Don and Cynthia Sereles have managed to build a successful company with minimal marketing, mostly relying on hard work that gets passed around by word of mouth.
“I don’t think many people will be successful treating this like a nine-to-five job,” said Don Serles, “I’ve always had a ‘do whatever it takes’ mentality.”
This mindset has led the team of 13 employees to be booked out five months. So if you’re in the market for new cabinets, you’ll have to wait in line.
“It’s important, I think, to have it family-related because we are both on the same page. It’s a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice, but it has its rewards,” said Cynthia Serles.
Cynthia is one half of a duo that includes her and her husband Don Serles. The two met in 1993 and tied the knot in 2000.
“We have worked together and lived together and everything since 2000. For 18 years, and we rarely fight!” Cynthia said.
The Serles’s live on a 38-acre farm with cows, chickens, pigs, dogs and a cat.
“I take walks every morning and I don't have to leave my property,” said Cynthia Serles, who balances daily chores on the farm and work at the shop.
To the left of the secretary desk, behind a door, sits a passionately soft spoken Don Serles. The “Boss Man,” according to his wife.
Don Serles has been making custom cabinets since 1986.
In high school, Don was interested in woodworking, so throughout his junior and senior year he centered his class schedule around his craft and obtained a vocational education.
Once graduated, Don was looking for an opportunity to utilize his skill set. The vocational director at his old high school got him an interview at a local cabinet shop where he was hoping to make a good impression. He wasn’t, however, expecting the employer to forget about the interview.
“I did happen to just catch him when he was leaving. I got in his truck and went to a job site with him,” said Don Serles.
The two conversed to and from the job site, and on Oct. 8, 1986, Don was employed.
“He walked me out to the shop, I had my best clothes on, and I started on the spot. He took me out to the sanding bench and I started sanding that day.”
For the past 32 years, Don Serles has been mastering his craft and pleasing customers throughout the area.
“They did an exceptional job and completed the project within the agreed time frame,” said customer Lynda Capel. “They even took the time to locate the Formica we wanted even though it had been discontinued. They were a pleasure to work with.”
Don and Cynthia Sereles have managed to build a successful company with minimal marketing, mostly relying on hard work that gets passed around by word of mouth.
“I don’t think many people will be successful treating this like a nine-to-five job,” said Don Serles, “I’ve always had a ‘do whatever it takes’ mentality.”
This mindset has led the team of 13 employees to be booked out five months. So if you’re in the market for new cabinets, you’ll have to wait in line.
PROFILE: Cynthia Serles
OCCUPATION: Santiam Cabinets Secretary
FAMILY: Don Serles
HOBBIES: Taking care of her farm animals
HOMETOWN: Grants Pass, Oregon
WEBSITE: http://santiamcabinets.com
PHONE: 541-928-4830
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