Over 30 Years in Business

More than 1000 Projects Completed in the last 5 Years

70,000 Sq Feet Manufacturing

In-House Solid Surface, Metal, Delivery and Installation

Solar Power + Day Lit Facility

Portfolio

Our Story

What started as a part-time hobby for Jim Kickertz, founder of K&J  Woodworks, evolved into a dynamic business venture, consistently manufacturing some of the finest, sturdiest, and most innovative retail millwork fixtures in America for over thirty years. With innovation and flexibility built into the K&J business model, the top-of-the-line woodworking organization is manufacturing world class millwork at competitive prices.  We are proud of the quality, speed, delivery, and installation that is part of the K&J Woodworks customer service experience. We look forward to the future of K&J and working with you on your next project!

The Early Years

Jim Kickertz didn’t set out to become a national manufacturer of custom millwork fixtures. However, when the story began to unfold in the Austin, TX area in the early 1980’s, Jim began building birdhouses and patio decks in his garage to follow his own personal woodworking dream. One day, after constructing a college-style bookcase and garnering admiration from his  wife, her words of encouragement,  “You’ve got talent,” would inspire Jim to pursue a  new career as a woodworker. Being in the right place at the right time is the best way of retelling K&J’s rise-to-success story. The year was 1984 and Jim accepted a job as a meat cutter in the original Lamar store location for Whole Foods Market. This era of Jim’s meat-cutting career at Whole Foods Market afforded Jim a flexible work schedule so when he was off the clock, he would be able to pursue his woodworking  hobby. With Jim’s passion for entrepreneurship and the rise of Whole Foods, he landed himself various side projects fabricating custom millwork fixtures for many stores both locally and in surrounding regional areas. With his reputation as a reliable woodworker beginning to open new doors, Jim founded Kickertz Enterprises, the original name for his cabinetry shop business. Three years later, fueled by word of mouth, the demand from various Texas companies for quality casework, and the ongoing growth of Whole Foods, Jim felt confident in his prospects and launched K&J Woodworks in 1987 as a commercial custom millwork manufacturer.

Technology

In the early progression of K&J, new technology emerged that would transform the business from a traditional woodworking shop into a state-of-the-art millwork facility. With new advances positively impacting the efficiency of the woodworking industry, things began to change for K&J in 1995 when CNC (computer numerical controlled) machinery debuted in the shop. This technology revolutionized K&J’s fixture engineering and production process. The dynamic result of this new machinery led not only to increased speed, innovation and efficiency, but curves and accuracy in fixture production took on a whole new meaning, propelling K&J into the top tier of sophisticated, national commercial millwork manufacturers.

As K&J grew, the company positioned itself to complement the Whole Foods company culture, producing attractive, functional and quality millwork displays that helped brand the signature Whole Foods store millwork design image so familiar to shoppers today. This experience has provided K&J opportunities to work in a variety of industries expanding the company’s knowledge as well as talent. K&J Woodworks is competitively positioned to produce traditional, modern and futuristic custom millwork fixtures, while retaining the flexibility and adaptability that has allowed K&J to grow and evolve with the times.

Our Team

The most important component to K&J’s success is its employees. The company’s leadership and management team members have each been with K&J for more than ten years and have worked to provide stability in the company and its employees. K&J’s engineering, manufacturing, and installation team members have significant experience in the industry.  There is a strong commitment amongst  K&J employees to succeed, not just for themselves, but for the  family that K&J has become over the years. Unfortunately, that family lost its founder and owner, Jim Kickertz, in September of 2013, leaving big shoes to fill. Jim left a legacy that will forever live on in the hearts of many because of the way he taught us to live and love.

Backing up to 1992, Brett Burich was hired on for a weekend project. When that project was complete, he was promised two more weeks of employment, but from there on the future was unclear. However he always took advantage of every opportunity and it undoubtedly pointed him in the right direction. Fast-forwarding over thirty years later, Brett had held almost every position in the company. After becoming General Manager, he proved his leadership skills by supporting all employees through a time of uncertainty, loss, and projects that had to be pushed forward despite the challenges they proved. With his “roll up your sleeves” attitude, Brett jumped in with both feet to encourage those around him, including K&J’s customers, vendors, and even the bank.

In August of 2014, Brett and his wife, Leslie, became the owners of K&J.  Over the next 8 years, they led K&J through phenomenal growth, ongoing improvements, and thousands of fireworks at the annual party.  After 8 years, they were looking for a change of pace and sold the company to long-time employee, Joe Howe.

Joe had been leading the financial, accounting, and technology functions since 2012 but grew into many other leadership areas.  As President of K&J, Joe is honored and excited to continue the legacy started by Jim and carried on by Brett and Leslie.

In Loving Memory

James “Jim” G. Kickertz