member of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and the Director of Architecture for Lettuce Entertain You, sums up the Hudec experience: “I have been collaborating with Hudec Woodworking Cor- poration since 1996. From initial rough sketches through the final punch list item John and his team have been able to keep up with Lettuce Entertain You’s evolution. With restaurants across the country and demanding schedules, Hudec’s design, shop drawings, project management and customer service have always been there for us.” “So the mesh of various materials, such as wood, glass, metals, stone, and repurposed materials, is redefining what millwork entailed 20 years ago. The integration of various materials and the pressing need to go green is quickly archiving earlier millwork products.” When I questioned Hulen about Mr. Cinelli’s comment, his answer was blunt: “The single greatest philosophy we live each day with our employees, suppliers, and cus- tomers is that ‘We make commitments and we keep com- mitments.’ We are committed to meeting the changing needs of both our employees and clients. That level of commitment was a founding core belief,” said Hulen, who joined the Hudec Woodworking team in 2013 as the Director of Projects. “Our urgent commitment to our cli- entele is the backbone of our business and those values have only intensified with our explosive growth.”
The demands of clients have even changed the materials used in the industry. “Green philosophies have become a major influence on millwork trades,” Hulen said. “So the mesh of various materials, such as wood, glass, metals, stone, and repurposed materials, is redefining what millwork entailed 20 years ago. The integration of various materials and the pressing need to go green is quickly archiving earlier millwork products.” That’s not to say that a truly vintage feel is lost on con- temporary design. The Labriola Café on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, for example, is unmistakably inspired by Late-Victorian millwork – what’s considered to be the golden age of American millwork. “Serving the needs of architects, designers, building owners and developers, restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality establishments is top priority,” Hulen said. “Whatever the ambiance, we can make it happen.” “We truly go to whatever lengths imaginable to ensure that we consistently exceed their expectations. We once flew two employees to the West Coast to sort antique lumber reclaimed from the bottom of Salt Lake, then drive the load back to Chicago in a rental truck. The client was seeking a specific look and needed the product A.S.A.P. The supplier could not meet the expectation, so we invested our own resources to make it happen for our client. We overcome these types of issues every day.” Hudec sponsors myriad charities locally in Indiana and across America, including Opportunity Enterprises, American Heart Association National Center, Orak Shine Circus, Friends of Children, Griffith Lions Club, and A Wider Circle.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • OCTOBER 2016
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