When a March 2020 fire destroyed Westside Custom Cabinets’ shop, owner Tracy Schroeder had two priorities: rebuild fast and keep her crew working. Within weeks, she had the business operating again — and she hasn’t slowed down since.
Schroeder has taken the family business her father started in Kitsap County and pushed it to new heights, earning national recognition while staying rooted in the craftsmanship, integrity, and work ethic that defined its beginnings.
Schroeder has never been one to do anything halfway. Competition — whether on a tennis court, a bodybuilding stage, or inside a cabinet shop — has always sharpened her focus and raised her standards.
A Family Legacy Carved in Wood
Schroeder’s father, Evert Sutphin, spent 20 years honing his woodworking skills before launching Westside Construction Services in 2000 at age 53. The original 3,000-square-foot shop was built in a 100-year-old chicken coop on his mother’s 15-acre property in Poulsbo. With one full-time employee, Sutphin gradually expanded.
In 2015, Schroeder returned to Kitsap County after 20 years away. She’d spent time living in Los Angeles, where she had a dog boarding and dog daycare company. In Dubai, she was an international traveling tennis coach and competitive junior instructor. When she returned to the area, she joined the company and began learning the production process alongside her father, officially taking over in 2016. Her leadership revitalized the business, keeping it in the family while fostering growth.
One of Schroeder’s first major changes was to rename the company Westside Custom Cabinets. Concerned that the original name suggested large-scale renovations, she changed it to reflect the company’s specialty. She noticed a significant increase in business — an outcome she attributes to the quality of their work, client relations, and integrity to stand behind their products and resolve issues quickly.
But on March 9, 2020, a fire consumed the primary business workshop and everything inside. Fortunately, everyone was safe. She worked tirelessly to document losses for the insurance claim, which Nationwide processed within two weeks, enabling her to replace machinery and ensure staff were paid.
“They did a really great job. They got money to us right away,” she said. “For me, the responsibility of my guys was a really big deal. I didn’t want five people to lose their jobs that day, so that responsibility drove me.”
Restarting the company and moving it twice was tough. Three weeks after the fire, she leased a new location in Poulsbo’s Twelve Trees Business Park. It allowed the company to start fresh and continue business. She then moved to Northeast Minder Road in Poulsbo, which added 4,450 square feet of floor space.
Learn More About Westside
Today, the team is comprised of a variety of specialists in design, engineering, assembly, and finishing. While it specializes in cabinets, vanities, and closets, the team also crafts other wood projects for homes. Schroeder approaches every project by listening to clients’ needs and tackling creative challenges, from plumbing details and secret storage drawers to complete kitchen remodels.
Interior cladding — covering a wall with specialty wood species, for example — is one project the business is frequently tasked with doing. The chic choice hides wall imperfections and adds visual warmth. For those who desire a new look and already have cabinets in good condition, “refacing” is a cost-effective option. The team can build new drawers and fronts to update the look while keeping the layout intact. If cabinets are structurally unsound or outdated, a full rebuild is the better investment, according to Schroeder, allowing for increased storage, custom accessories, or a fresh design.
The team’s work recently earned national recognition. In 2025, Westside Custom Cabinets received three CMA Wood Diamond Awards honors, a mark of excellence in the woodworking and cabinetry industry. It also received three honorable mentions and took home third place for an award-winning custom library, a bookworm’s haven, featuring floor-to-ceiling, espresso-stained shelving and a rolling ladder — a testament to the team’s attention to both form and function.
Discipline Meets Design
Schroeder has a dedicated mindset and drive to excel. The two traits have helped her succeed as a business owner and have been strengthened by a lifelong passion for physical fitness. Having trained as a bodybuilder for 10 years, she is usually working toward her professional status in the sport. In October 2024, Schroeder won third place in two categories at competitions hosted by the National Physique Committee.
“I developed the discipline, leadership skills, and confidence over the years to run any business regardless of what I’m selling,” Schroeder said. “If you have a great product, integrity as a business, and you treat your clients as a priority while staying accessible, you build trust, and success seems to be the natural outcome. The industry may have been new to me at first, but the fundamentals of discipline, consistency, and service translate anywhere.”
For Schroeder, Westside Custom Cabinets’ true strength lies in integrity — the consistent care and attention the team gives every client.
“My clients mean everything to me. We stand behind our product and take responsibility for every step,” she said, noting that many of the people she’s worked with keep in touch after a project’s completion. “It’s not just about how the project looks when it’s done — it’s about honoring clients’ desires, being mindful of budgets and creating something beautiful that fits their vision and their lives.”