Showplace Cabinetry President Bill Allen Succeeds Retiring CEO Paul Sova

Harrisburg, SD – Following a 42-year career in the kitchen and bath industry, Showplace Cabinetry founding partner and current CEO Paul Sova is retiring at the end of December 2020.

Along with a small group of friends and business partners, Sova co-founded Showplace Wood Products in 1999. At the company’s inception Sova served as its director of manufacturing, later transitioning to vice president, president, and CEO.

“Paul has been a great mentor and role model for me and the entire leadership team at Showplace,” says Allen, who is currently president of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association board. “He has cultivated an amazing, inclusive culture for the company’s employee-owners, while strengthening its financial stability and commitment to excellence.”

Sova also served multiple terms on the board of directors of the KCMA and as president of the national trade group. 

Under Sova’s leadership, Showplace has grown to achieve nearly $90 million in annual sales while building about 45 kitchens each day. The company currently has 587 employee-owners with manufacturing plants in Harrisburg and Beresford, SD.

“It has been an honor and privilege to lead Showplace through times of tremendous growth, as well as challenging economic times that tested our team’s resolve,” says Sova. “To have had a role in taking Showplace from start-up to becoming a recognized national player in the cabinet industry has been very humbling and gratifying. I am extremely proud of the Showplace team and what we have accomplished together. With the next group of leaders in place, the future is bright and I look forward to a smooth transition.”

The move completes a well-planned leadership transition as Sova will be succeeded by company president Bill Allen, who will take on the additional responsibilities of CEO at the end of the year. In a post at the Showplace website, Sova reflected on the transition:

“Thanks to the incredible surge in home construction, remodeling and general home improvement, Showplace Cabinetry has recovered completely from the economic effects of the pandemic and is running ahead of last year – which was a solid year of growth for our company. It may be that housing and home improvement will be the sector which leads our country out of the current downturn in the national economy. Showplace is looking at a strong finish for 2020 and is forging ahead with new products and exciting ideas for 2021.

“The confidence that dealers and consumers have placed in our company and the excellent response to our introduction of Longview by Showplace and innovative design and construction enhancements puts our company in a great position moving forward. Those strengths also give me the opportunity to follow my long-planned decision to retire as CEO of Showplace at the end of this calendar year.

“One of the signs of a well-managed company is a carefully developed succession plan, and that has characterized Showplace from the beginning. We have in place a group of leaders who have proven their dedication to Showplace and their understanding of the marketplace. Led by President Bill Allen, our leadership team has been preparing to take Showplace to the next level – and I have been working with them with the knowledge that they will take the reins in the new year.”

Paul will continue to be active as a member of the Showplace Cabinetry board of directors. 

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