In my 20 years of construction, millwork often seemed like an afterthought- something taken for granted and often relegated to a few countertops and cabinets thrown in towards the end of a project. All that changed when I discovered that my company had inadvertently forgotten to issue a purchase order to my millwork manufacturer and with only 12 days to go before turning the building over to the client- things looked pretty bleak. Bear in mind that this was our first project with this client, a huge National chain with unparalleled clout and limitless resources for legal recourse.

The manufacturer-Cohen Architectural Woodworking-immediately stepped up and started a chain of events that would seem impossible to me at the time. A family owned and operated business, they were so incredibly helpful and friendly that I was put at ease from the start and assured that they were going to do everything in their power to deliver the cabinets in the limited time that I had left. Nate Cohen, the Project Manager, was always available when questions would arise, and his unflappable and professional demeanor was always a pleasure to deal with. By working extended hours and expediting shipping, the entire millwork package was delivered to our California jobsite and it looked like the deadline would be met and the relationship with our client remain intact.

Unfortunately, the sub contractor we had hired to install the millwork was unable to properly complete his scope of work and after several days of poorly installed and improperly placed product, they left the job with the work incomplete and many pieces damaged and missing. Nate's older brother Ben, who by some miraculous twist of fate happened to be visiting California to visit contractors and visit the jobs on which the Cohen's millwork was being used, then stepped up to turn a bad situation into a workable solution. Using his contacts, Ben was able to assemble a crew of excellent installers in the course of a few hours and while thousands of miles from home. Working with us for nearly 48 straight hours, Ben took charge of the situation- inventorying material, replacing damaged pieces and oftentimes directing the crew himself. In the end, we made the client deadline with moments to spare and only because of the incredible efforts of Cohen Aritectural Woodworking and the amazing Cohen family. They truly take customer service to a level that I have never believed was possible, and the fact that this was our first time using them as a vendor made no difference at all. After my dealings with them, I really believe that this incredible story is just one of many, and that going way beyond the norm to make sure that their clients are taken care of in every way imaginable is a daily event.

So thank you very much to the entire Cohen family and everyone at Cohen  Architectural Woodworking for making it all happen and creating a long lasting and mutually beneficial relationship for all parties involved.