A section of the booth we exhibited at Build Boston. Classic white painted cabinetry, assorted door styles and a stunning quartersawn oak piece were all on display.

As 2011 comes to a close, we’re looking back at a very successful fall trade show season.  Most recently, we made an appearance at the 2011 Traditional Building Conference Series in Washington, DC.  A two day event, the conference allowed area architects to get 10 AIA credits while also having the chance to network and meet vendors like Crown Point!

Victorian Designer Series island with soapstone top.

We also exhibited for the third time at Build Boston, allowing us to meet many great new architects, designers and builders.  For the first time, we offered a drawing with a custom island as the prize.  We had a lot of interest, and one lucky show attendee can now call the custom island, from our Victorian Designer Series, her very own!

After the new year, our attention will turn to preparing for three upcoming shows; NAHB’s  International Builders’ Show, The Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference and The Architectural Digest Home Design Show.  We hope to see you at one (or more) of these venues!  Until then, enjoy the holidays!

Make sure to check out the hilarious outtakes as well!

Here’s a behind the scenes look at what happens on a Crown Point photo shoot.  Enjoy!

One of the Crown Point Cabinetry Scholarship recipients, Alex Goss, receives his diploma

Each year, the Crown Point Cabinetry Charity Committee awards a scholarship to a local graduating high school senior.  This year, our Charity Committee chose to award two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each.  Recipients of the 2011 Crown Point Cabinetry Scholarship are Jacob Van Velsor and Alex Goss!

The scholarship is an employee funded award, given to a graduating student continuing his/her education in general construction in the areas of woodworking, electrical, plumbing, heating, engineering, architecture or computer assisted drafting.  Recipients also had to meet criteria including a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, demonstration of financial need plus submitting two letters of recommendation and a personal interview with Crown Point Charity Committee members.

Let’s meet our 2011 recipients!

Jacob Van Velsor lives in Charlestown, New Hampshire and recently graduated from Fall Mountain Regional High School.  Jacob has been actively involved with 4-H for many years, and has also participated in track & field, band and football all while working part time and tending to his parents’ farm.  Through 4-H, he has given back to his community by building and donating a playground, participating in clean up day, making quilts for children’s hospitals and much more.  He is looking forward to attending the Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, NH where he plans to get an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Electrical Systems Installations and Maintenance.

Alex Goss lives in Goshen, New Hampshire and graduated with the class of 2011 from Newport High School.   Since he was little, Alex has been interested in the field of engineering and its application to space travel.  He has taken pre-engineering courses at the high school level and was selected to participate in the St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program during the summer of 2010.  His first choice school is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York where he plans to study Aero Nautical Engineering.

Congratulations Jacob and Alex!  We wish you both the best of luck!

The grillers for today's barbecue are (from left) Ted Nemetz, Tammy Aldrich, Todd Scranton and Jeff Schneider

Although the construction industry was off as a whole, Crown Point is ending our fiscal year on a high note at a twenty percent gain over last year! A celebration was in order, and we all love a barbecue!  Rain couldn’t dampen our spirits as we ignored the downpour and enjoyed grilled chicken, burgers, salads and desserts underneath the covered receiving area.  The sun may have been absent, but smiles abound!

Peter Ippedico, Matt Faro and Mark Wirta pause for a photo

Crown Pointers make their way down the line

Crown Point President, Brian Stowell, offers up an umbrella for the walk back to the building

Check out more photos of today’s barbecue on our Facebook page!

The Crown Point Ramblers pose for a picture as they prepare for the 5K Walk

The 2011 Turning Points Network Steppin’ Up to End Violence 5K Walk was held on April 16th in Claremont.  TPN is a private, non-profit agency offering crisis and support services to female and male survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking.

Crown Point was a major sponsor of this year’s walk and the Crown Point Ramblers joined the other 475 walkers to help TPN reach their goal of $40,000 raised!  These funds will go to violence and stalking survivors, as well as the agency’s prevention education programs for local schools.

Photos from this year’s walk are now on the TPN website!

We are looking forward to Steppin’ Up again next year!

A Crown Point sponsored youth baseball team huddles up after a game. Coaches John Proper (Crown Point's Application Engineer) and Erin Lovely lead the cheer.

Giving back to the community is a large part of the culture among the employees here at Crown Point.   A number of Crown Pointers, including the company President, choose to do their part by volunteering time as coaches for area youth sports teams.  Crown Point encourages this community involvement and allows employees to take time off whenever they need it.

Ken Aldrich, Crown Point’s Safety Director, has been coaching for over 18 years. Most recently, Ken got started coaching the local Special Olympics basketball team when his youngest daughter began playing as a unified partner.  Ken soon recruited our Production Manager, Don Paquette to help with coaching.  Now, Don’s son has joined the team, competing as a unified partner as well.

Ken Aldrich and Don Paquette coach from the sidelines during a Claremont Cool Cats Special Olympics basketball tournament in March. Seated on the floor, Don's son, Mitchell (left) and teammate, Noah take a break.

“Coaching is so rewarding,” remarked Ken when asked what he enjoyed most about coaching these kids. “Teaching what it means to be part of a team and having pride in that is one of the greatest lessons they can learn.  Plus it means I get to spend more time with my kids doing what they enjoy.”

Ken has also coached track and field alongside Rick Deschaine, our Plant Engineer.  In fact, they were both recently recognized as the “most influential coaches” to the recipient of Stevens High School’s “Female Athlete of the Year” President’s Award.

Rick Deschaine gives a pep talk before a 7th grade track and field meet

“I’ve coached some great kids with some great people including my friend and fellow Crown Pointer Ken Aldrich and my wife Patty,” Rick said.  “I feel very fortunate to be with a company that has allowed me the flexibility to be a part of our local coaching community.”

Mark Belaire cheers on his players, including his daughter Haley, during a game in Claremont

From soccer to basketball to field hockey and more, Crown Pointers have been coaching in this area for decades.  Some of the others who have coached in the past, or who you can look for on the sidelines this season include Matt McElreavy, Randy Bly, Jackie DeMag, Mark Belaire, Bob Davis, Todd Scranton, Brian Stowell, John Proper, Joe Paquette, Eric Smith, Lee Lamott, Tedd LeBlanc, Steve Raymond, Peter Ippedico and Mark Wirta.

Stan Marro keeps a keen eye on the game

Though he has not been involved in the coaching side of things, Stan Marro, a Drafter here at Crown Point, will be beginning his 25th season as a high school Varsity football official this fall.  Putting his years of experience to good use for the community, Stan has also volunteered as a referee for many youth sports teams.

In addition to individual volunteer efforts, the Crown Point Charity Committee regularly sponsors area youth sports teams.  The committee is a rotating group of employees that distributes employee contributions through our charity fund on a monthly basis.  Team sponsorship helps the teams purchase new uniforms, equipment and more.

All our coaches and other volunteers agree, it is a wonderful thing to watch these kids learn and grow.  Without a doubt, Crown Pointers will continue to help out with these teams, making a difference one game, practice or play at a time.

Sporting a Crown Point Cabinetry team jersey, this little guy waits for his turn at bat

Photographer Jeffrey Stowell peers through the camera, planning the next shot

About twice a month, we like to get out on the road to photograph installed Crown Point kitchens. Our photography team, Photographer/Crown Point Creative Director Jeffrey Stowell, Stylist Luciana Frigerio and PR Specialist/Photo Assistant Stacey Nachajski headed down to Boston yesterday to photograph an impressive kitchen that had been painstakingly finished on site by the homeowner.

After wrestling with city traffic our team began a busy day of taking shot after shot, adjusting the lighting, propping, and making sure everything was just so.  Believe it or not, it takes a full business day (about 7 or 8 hours) to get 8 or 9 great shots!

Our stylist, Luciana, arranges real blocks of cheese and cascading grapes as props in the foreground of the next shot

We always look forward to getting out there and seeing the finished product.  We especially enjoy meeting with the clients face to face, and seeing that they’re using and enjoying their Crown Point Cabinetry.

We’ll be posting the final shots of this unique kitchen in our custom cabinetry gallery next week, so be sure to check back!