As the President + CEO of Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets, I spend most of my days focused on ensuring exceptional client service, creating amazing cabinetry + millwork, managing logistics, + making leadership decisions that help us achieve our goals. But recently, I stepped away from the shop floor + into something just as transformative—the 2025 BuildHER Retreat in Costa Rica.This wasn’t your typical leadership conference. It was a gathering of women in construction—builders, architects, designers, suppliers, professional service providers + amazing tradeswomen—all there to learn, grow, + support one another. And what I experienced? It challenged me…on how I lead, how I build, + how I show up.
March 26th is a day I’ll remember for a long time…not only was it my husband, Kevin’s birthday, but it was also an amazing day spent with amazing women from across Utah. I had the absolute honor of joining an incredible group of women at the Utah Women in Manufacturing event, hosted by Utah Manufacturers Association under the empowering theme “Lace Up + Lead.” Even more meaningful? I got to bring every single woman from Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets with me.There’s something special that happens when you step outside your day-to-day and make space to learn, connect, and reflect—together. From the breakout sessions to the hallway conversations, from new industry friends to familiar faces, this event reminded me how powerful women in manufacturing truly are. And I’m so proud that Cottonwood was part of it.One of the biggest highlights for me personally was getting to co-present with Kylee Trapp, our Human Resource – Business Partner. Together, we shared our session, “The Power of Culture,” and opened up about the real journey we’ve been on to transform our company from the inside out.
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At Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets, craftsmanship is at the heart of everything we do—but our people are the foundation of our success. That’s why we’re honored to be recognized as the 2024 Company Culture Award winner by the Utah Manufacturing Association (UMA). This prestigious award celebrates exceptional workplaces that prioritize employee well-being, engagement, and professional development, and we couldn’t be more proud of our team for making Cottonwood an inspiring place to work.
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At Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets, leadership isn’t just about overseeing operations—it’s about vision, innovation, and creating an environment where employees and partners thrive. That’s why we’re proud to announce that Kari Kovar, President + CEO of Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets, has been recognized as the Utah Manufacturing Association’s 2024 Leader of the Year.
