HOWARD LAKE, WRIGHT COUNTY, MN: Dura Supreme Cabinetry just celebrated their Master Assembler, Darryl Krueger’s 50th anniversary with the company. This is an extremely rare milestone in today’s workforce. When asked why he chose to spend his entire career at Dura Supreme, Darryl shared, “I’ve always been comfortable working here and I got treated right. Why would I leave?” At Dura Supreme, it’s pretty common to have long-tenured employees with incredible milestones of 20, 30, or even 40 years. Darryl is the company’s second employee to celebrate a 50-year milestone following another employee, Steve Anderson, who celebrated his 50-year milestone last year.
Darryl started his career with Dura Supreme on May 6, 1974, after a few of his friends highly recommended it. During that time the company was located in a much smaller 3-story building in Cokato, MN. Dura Supreme was rapidly growing, and beginning to outgrow their space while they waited for the new location in Howard Lake to be built. “I remember how challenging it was having to go up and down elevators with the cabinets,” shared Darryl. “We all kept our spirits up by saying ‘It’ll be better at the new factory’ and it was.” Six years later in 1980, Dura Supreme relocated to their brand new 200,000 sq. ft. facility which is still their headquarters today.
Darryl Krueger in 1980 working in the Specials Department at Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
Throughout the years, Darryl has worked or helped in nearly every department and held several positions including some lead/supervisor roles to becoming the Quality Control Manager before he followed his passion working closely with the final product being a Field Tech for many years to his current role today as a Master Assembler. Some of his favorite projects have been traveling to tradeshows like KBIS to manage the display installs, helping local showrooms with their displays, and helping remodel his coworker’s homes with Dura Supreme cabinets. “One of my favorite things about being a cabinetmaker is that moment when you see how happy the homeowner is after their home has been transformed with cabinets,” explained Darryl, “It’s a great feeling.”
He’s made a long-lasting reputation at Dura Supreme as a master of his craft and he is well-known for his fun-spirited jokes. Although you might catch him cracking a joke or two, he takes his job seriously. “With each cabinet, I make sure to ask myself if I would accept it in my house,” Darryl shared, “It’s important to be picky and do it right the first time.”
Darryl Krueger today working as a Master Assembler at Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
Darryl is still deciding when to retire but is not quite ready to hang his ‘hat’ up just yet. His dreams for retirement include installing cabinetry on the side as a hobby as well as some hunting & fishing, enjoying the outdoors, and taking some long rides on his motorcycle.
The company recently celebrated Darryl’s 50-year milestone on Monday, May 6th at their headquarters in Howard Lake, MN. Tony Sugaslki, CEO of Dura Supreme Cabinetry announced “On behalf of the entire Dura Supreme leadership team past and present, myself, and all of our customers over the past 50 years, we’d like to thank Darryl for his incredible contribution to the health and growth to our business, to the welfare of our customers, and for all of the professional relationships he’s built with many of his colleagues throughout the years. It’s a remarkable commitment, an incredible milestone, and it’s exciting to be able to come together and celebrate it with the rest of our dedicated team.”
On May 6, 2024 at Darryl Krueger’s 50-year anniversary party. Darryl Krueger (pictured on the left) and Sugaslki, CEO of Dura Supreme Cabinetry (pictured on the right).
On May 6, 2024 at Darryl Krueger’s 50-year anniversary party showing Darryl opening several gifts from the company.
On May 6, 2024 at Darryl Krueger’s 50-year anniversary party. Surprise guest, Steve Anderson (pictured on the left) came to celebrate Darryl Krueger’s (pictured on the right) milestone. Steve celebrated both his 50-year milestone and retirement in 2023.
Darryl Krueger today working as a Master Assembler at Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
About Dura Supreme Cabinetry
With its headquarters located in Howard Lake, Minnesota, Dura Supreme manufactures semi-custom and custom, framed and frameless cabinetry for a nationwide network of dealers. For nearly 70 years homeowners and designers have looked to Dura Supreme for kitchen and bath cabinetry that fulfills their desire for personalized design choices and outstanding quality of construction. To learn more about Dura Supreme or to contact an authorized Dura Supreme cabinetry dealer visit www.durasupreme.com. To learn how to become a dealer visit www.durasupreme.com/become-a-dealer.