Meet Sean Glessing, The Craftsman Behind Sean’s Cabinetry
Every great company has a story—and at Sean’s Cabinetry, that story starts with the person who brings it all together. Sean Glessing lead craftsman and owner of Sean’s Cabinetry, has spent years working with creativity, precision, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. He brings it into every project that leaves his shop. But beyond the sawdust and cabinet doors, Sean’s story is one of passion, adventure, and a lifelong love of building things—both in the shop and outside of it.
Owner of Sean’s Cabinetry: Beyond the Workshop
When Sean’s not designing or building custom cabinetry, you’ll usually find him outdoors—or somewhere on the water. His weekends depend on the season: in the summer, that means fishing, wakeboarding, and swimming; in the winter, you’ll catch him snowboarding in the mountains. No matter the time of year, Sean loves hiking and taking long walks with his wife. And because the two are self-proclaimed foodies, you can often find them trying out new restaurants or discovering hidden gems wherever they go.
Sean’s interests don’t stop there—he’s also a talented guitarist and an avid outdoorsman year-round who loves to snowboard and snowmobile. That same curiosity and hands-on spirit show up in his work every day, fueling his attention to detail and love for the creative process.
When asked about the best advice he’s ever received, Sean doesn’t hesitate: “Do the right thing, even when no one is looking—it will always come back to reward you ten times more than you think.” It’s a principle that has shaped not only his career but also the integrity and reputation of Sean’s Cabinetry as a whole.
Sean’s Inspiration and Favorite Food
Sean says one book that really changed things for him is Think and Grow Rich. It flipped a switch on mindset and what’s possible when you really commit. He also credits John Maxwell and Grant Cardone for shaping the way he leads his company and continues to grow as a business owner and person.
When it comes to food, Sean keeps it simple—he loves a good steak, but spaghetti and meatballs are a close second. If he could share that meal with anyone famous, it would be Andrew Carnegie. Sean has always been inspired by his story—how he went from a poor immigrant boy to building one of the most successful steel companies in the world. But it’s not just about the success. What stands out most is how Carnegie believed wealth came with responsibility. Sean connects with that idea, especially as he grows his own business. He admires Carnegie’s balance of excellence, long-term vision, and legacy-driven leadership, and says he’d love to ask how he stayed grounded through it all—and how he knew when it was time to give it back.
While Sean’s spent most of his life building and creating on land, he says one thing that is still on his bucket list is learning how to scuba dive. Exploring coral reefs and seeing what’s below the surface sounds like an adventure he’s ready for.
Where It All Began for Owner of Sean’s Cabinetry
Sean moved around a bit growing up—first living in Cokato, then Howard Lake, and finally Hutchinson, where he graduated from Hutchinson High School in 2010. After high school, he found a shop space back in Cokato. The commute eventually got old, so after a couple of years making that drive, he decided to move back in 2013—and he’s been there ever since.
It was in 9th grade shop class that he discovered his passion for woodworking—a spark that turned into what is now Sean’s Cabinetry. Rather than taking the traditional college path, the owner of Sean’s Cabinetry says he learned by doing. He bootstrapped his business from the ground up, studying and reading books that spoke directly to the challenges he was facing. He was learning everything he could to grow the company.
From First Job to Creating a Company
His first job was at Burns Manor in Hutchinson, washing dishes and helping serve meals to residents. It may not have been glamorous, but Sean says it was one of the best learning experiences he’s had. “I loved hearing the stories and wisdom the elderly shared,” he says. “Those lessons stuck with me.” It also taught him how much teamwork matters—how one person not pulling their weight can impact the whole group. Even then, Sean already had his sights set on running his own cabinet shop. Every paycheck from Burns Manor went straight into buying tools and supplies to keep that dream alive.
By the time he was still in high school, Sean knew exactly what he wanted to do. After applying to a few cabinet shops in 2008 and not getting hired—since work was scarce and the trades were slow—he decided to create his own opportunity.
As Sean puts it, “Sean’s Cabinetry was founded on passion. I took a shop class in 9th grade and fell in love with crafting cabinetry. I used all the funds from my part-time job working in a kitchen to buy tools so I could make kitchens.”
Fueled by that same drive, he began working out of a small shop space, using the tools he’d saved for and the determination to keep learning. That space eventually grew into Sean’s Cabinetry—a business built from the ground up, one project, one tool, and one step at a time.
Building A Business: From Sacrifice to Strength
When I started my company, there were nights I literally slept on the shop floor just to keep things moving. I poured everything I had into getting it off the ground. Over time—through grit, sacrifice, and a lot of trial and error—things began to grow. Today, I live a decent life and run a business I’m proud of, but I never forget those early days. They taught me humility, resilience, and what it really means to earn something. Those lessons shaped me as a leader and keep me grounded as we continue to build.
The most challenging part of my job is thinking five moves ahead while keeping everything aligned—our people, our product, and our progress. I’m constantly balancing growth with quality, vision with execution, and day-to-day demands with long-term goals. But what stretches me the most is casting a vision so big that everyone’s dreams can fit inside it. Ironically, some of the hardest work I’ve ever done doesn’t involve making a product—it’s working on myself and growing as a leader.
What excites me most about leading our team at Sean’s Cabinetry is watching our people learn and grow. I love hiring people who are smarter than me in key areas and watching them thrive. And of course, I love seeing our clients light up when their space finally matches the way they live—when they can be proud to welcome family and friends into it. Our long-term mission is simple but bold: to transform 100,000 spaces.
Creating Cool Spaces & Great Teams
We’ve been blessed to work on so many cool projects over the years, but one that really stands out was a collaboration with our friends at construction2style on Anthony Edwards’ house. We custom made his office, his bed, and several other unique pieces throughout the home. It was one of those projects where creativity, craftsmanship, and teamwork all came together—and the end result was something really special.
Over time, I’ve learned that when you’re building something great, it takes an incredible group of people to make it happen. Sure, technical skills are key when it comes to crafting beautiful cabinetry, but the real magic comes from building a strong team. Learning how to lead and empower amazing humans has been one of the most valuable skills I’ve developed—it’s what allows us to get our cabinetry into more homes and create spaces people love.
To stay on top of what’s new, we attend events like KBIS, read every trade publication we can get our hands on, and stay connected with our vendors who keep us in the loop on what’s coming next. We’re often among the first to beta test new products and materials, which keeps things exciting and ensures our clients get the latest and greatest designs and equipment.
At the end of the day, what inspires me most is seeing the impact our work has on people’s lives. Every time we transform a kitchen or a space, we’re changing the way someone experiences their home—and that’s incredibly rewarding. On the business side, I’m inspired by leaders who build great teams and strong cultures. I love learning from people like John Maxwell, Dan Sullivan, and others in the trades who lead with purpose and teach from experience.
