I grew up at Mother Hubbard’s. No, really.
As the granddaughter of Mother Hubbard’s founder, Les Petrie, and the daughter of John and Carol, the current owners, I was raised around conversations about cabinetry, design, remodeling, craftsmanship, deadlines, budgets, and above all, taking care of people. I’m so proud that this business has never just been about kitchens and baths. It has always been about helping families create the kitchen, bath and special spaces of their dreams.
That legacy means a great deal to me.
Today, as General Manager of Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry, I have the privilege and responsibility of helping carry that legacy forward. I am not a designer, and I think that is part of what makes this moment especially meaningful to me. In a company like ours, cabinetry knowledge should not belong only to designers. It should live throughout the business. It should shape how we guide clients in the showroom, how we coordinate projects, how we answer questions, and how we make decisions every day.
That is why earning my NKBA Cabinetry Specialist badge was important to me.
For me, it was not about adding a badge on my bio. It was about deepening my understanding of the products, materials, construction methods, and standards that are at the heart of what we do. It was about continuing to learn, continuing to grow, and continuing to respect the craft that built this company long before I stepped into my current role.
What makes this even more special is that I was not alone.
I am incredibly proud that several of my coworkers (and friends) also earned the NKBA Cabinetry Specialist badge: Nicole Criswell, our Showroom Manager; Nicole Ruda, one of our talented designers; and Kelly Montgomery, our Project Coordinator. Each of us serves a different role, but all of us contribute to the client experience. When we invest in our knowledge together, we become a stronger team together.
Our clients do not experience Mother Hubbard’s in pieces. They do not experience design over here and project coordination over there and showroom support somewhere else. They experience one company, one process, and one promise. When the people across those roles share a deeper understanding of cabinetry, that promise becomes stronger, clearer, and more consistent.
I believe that is part of the Mother Hubbard’s difference and the embodiment of our core values.
My grandfather built this business with vision, hard work, and a deep belief in doing things the right way. My father expanded that legacy through design leadership, industry service, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. I am proud to represent the next generation of that story, and I am just as proud to work alongside a team that believes learning never stops.
Earning the NKBA Cabinetry Specialist badge is one step in that journey.
For me, it is a way to honor where we come from, invest in where we are now, and help prepare Mother Hubbard’s for where we are going next.
- Cabinetry Knowledge Is Part of Our Family Legacy - June 28, 2026