Introduction
In this episode, host Jacob Edmond sits down with Brian Milburn, Vice President of Operations at Modular Millwork and founder of Praxon, a field operations software platform built specifically for the millwork industry. Having spent nearly three decades working his way from the shop floor to executive leadership, Brian shares how firsthand experience with installation, engineering, and operations inspired him to solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges, managing what happens after the product leaves the shop.
Together, they discuss Brian’s journey through commercial and residential millwork, the lessons he learned leading manufacturing teams, the realities of field operations, and how artificial intelligence helped him build software designed by millwork professionals, for millwork professionals. If you’ve ever struggled with field communication, documentation, scheduling, or protecting project profitability, this conversation offers practical insights from someone who has lived those challenges firsthand.
About Our Guest
Brian Milburn is the Vice President of Operations at Modular Millwork and the founder of Praxon, a field operations platform created to improve communication, documentation, scheduling, and accountability for millwork installation teams.
Raised in the woodworking industry by a cabinet maker, Brian began working in a millwork shop as a teenager and has spent nearly thirty years learning every aspect of the business, from building cabinets and running CNC equipment to engineering, estimating, production management, and executive leadership.
Throughout his career, Brian has helped lead both residential and commercial millwork companies, implementing operational improvements while developing a passion for engineering systems and technology. His latest venture, Praxon, was born directly from years of experiencing the challenges that millwork companies face every day in the field. His mission is simple, provide contractors with better tools to protect their projects, improve communication, and help the industry become more efficient.
What You’ll Learn
1. How Brian’s career began on the shop floor
Brian shares how growing up around his father’s cabinet shop shaped his passion for woodworking and why starting in production gave him a unique understanding of every stage of a millwork project.
2. The unexpected moment that changed his career forever
After building range hoods in a residential cabinet shop, Brian was suddenly introduced to Microvellum and challenged to learn engineering from scratch, a moment that completely redirected his professional path.
3. Why engineering is often the missing link in millwork leadership
Brian and Jacob discuss how many shop owners understand manufacturing but struggle with engineering, and why systematic thinking can transform an entire organization.
4. The real problems happening after products leave the shop
From missing dimensions to poor communication and undocumented jobsite conditions, Brian explains why field operations remain one of the industry’s biggest blind spots.
5. How Praxon was built from real millwork experience
Instead of adapting software designed for general contractors, Brian created a solution specifically for subcontractors and millwork companies by solving problems he encountered throughout his own career.
6. Why documentation protects profitability
Brian explains how photos, measurements, schedules, timestamps, and jobsite records can help contractors defend change orders, reduce disputes, and recover lost profit on projects.
7. How artificial intelligence accelerated software development
Although he had never built software before, Brian shares how AI coding tools helped him transform years of operational knowledge into a working platform in just a few months.
8. Why AI should be treated as a tool, not a replacement
Brian discusses the importance of combining industry experience with artificial intelligence instead of relying entirely on AI generated solutions.
9. Why protecting tradespeople matters
After nearly thirty years in the industry, Brian reflects on the challenges installers and subcontractors face every day and explains why giving them better tools ultimately benefits the entire project team.
10. Why solving real problems creates meaningful innovation
Rather than creating technology for the sake of technology, Brian explains why the best solutions come from deeply understanding the everyday frustrations of the people doing the work.
Where to Learn More
Modular Millwork
https://www.modularmillwork.com/
Connect with Brian Milburn on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-milburn-55613ab1/
Modular Millwork on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/modularmillwork/
Praxon
https://praxonops.com
Praxon on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/praxon/
Contact Brian
brian@praxonops.com
Final Thoughts
Brian Milburn’s journey demonstrates that some of the industry’s best innovations come from people who have spent years living the problems they set out to solve.
From sweeping shop floors as a teenager to leading operations at Modular Millwork and launching Praxon, Brian has built his career around continuous learning, practical problem solving, and improving the way millwork companies operate. His perspective reminds us that technology is most valuable when it supports the people doing the work, helping teams communicate better, protect their projects, and deliver successful outcomes.
Whether you’re an engineer, project manager, installer, or business owner, this episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and building solutions that make the woodworking industry strongeR.
