Jim Grinestaff has a diverse background in design, ranging from commercial buildings to residential kitchens with unique elements such as volcanic rock and puzzle-like doors., Grinestaff is a Certified Professional Building Designer with more than 30 years of kitchen and bath experience, holding a degree from the American Institute of Building Design and a degree in business administration from Elizabethtown College.

He founded and led an architectural and engineering firm for a decade, completing an average of 300 houses and 50 commercial and agricultural buildings annually.  His interest in the kitchen and bath industry led him to venture into designing cabinet doors and hardware, where he excelled in product development, project management and customer education.

In 2016, Grinestaff joined REHAU as a business development manager for the southeastern United States while the company was beginning to establish their RAUVISIO House surface lines. He shared, “I came to REHAU because I thought the company was making an interesting leap in the door business— they were doing something I hadn’t seen before.”  

He worked alongside product management, engineering and marketing during the product development process to lend insight on the door, kitchen and bath industry. The team started with a minimalist approach by offering acrylic, matte and engineered wood surface options. “I’ve seen the program progress to include more color offerings and product lines, like wood fiber laminate, high-gloss and metallic options,” he said. 

Day-to-day, Grinestaff provides his customers with design and product support. “My goal is to help cabinet companies evolve with the contemporary market and adapt to using modern materials,” he shared. “I educate them on the best way to use our products and how to integrate them with their existing machinery and processes, so they can achieve the best outcome.”

Grinestaff’s favorite part of his role is working alongside customers from start to finish. He provides support throughout the entire project process, helping customers pick the right product for their project, mapping out their designs, offering order assistance and sharing his expertise on product use and installation. 

Having been on the other side of the sales/customer relationship as a former business owner, Grinestaff understands the importance of following through on his word. “When I had my business, my biggest pain point was when people said they would get back to me and never did,” he explained. “Being on the other side taught me to respect cabinet shops and their time. I make a point to call back right away or specify a timeframe for when I can provide an answer.”