Meet Madars: The Warehouse Manager Who Starts Every Day with dog Brenda
When you picture your dream log cabin in the mountains, you probably imagine the view, the cozy evenings and the sense of escape. But before a single beam rises against the alpine sky, every cabin begins its journey in the KMB warehouse. Here, timber is shaped, tested and prepared by the hands and hearts of people who take pride in their craft.
One of them is Madars, KMB’s warehouse manager, who has been part of the company for many years. Each morning, he arrives at work together with Brenda, his loyal dog and daily companion. For clients, Brenda may never appear in the blueprints, but she is just as much a part of the process as the machines and timber stacks.
When you walk into the warehouse each morning, what’s the first thing you notice – and what makes you proud of the work done here?
The first thing I notice is who has already arrived. It might sound simple, but it sets the rhythm of the day and shows me we’re in this together. What makes me proud is how we’ve overcome challenges – meeting tough deadlines, taking responsibility for projects, even if it means working Saturdays. That shared commitment is what defines our team.
Most people only see a finished cabin standing proudly in the mountains. But in the warehouse, you see it in pieces. Which stage of the process excites you most?
For me, it’s the assembly stage, when we begin dismantling a cabin here in the warehouse. That’s when I know the project is nearly complete, ready to head for the mountains. I especially love seeing the photos from the building sites – our work framed by breathtaking landscapes. Those images remind me why the effort here matters so much.
KMB has transitioned from hand-crafting to using modern joinery machines. How has this shift changed daily life for you and the team?
At first, it was an adjustment. But in truth, my own work hasn’t changed much. The machines make production faster and more precise, but the essence remains the same: responsibility, craftsmanship and teamwork. Technology is a tool – people still give every cabin its soul.
Looking back at the many cabins you’ve helped bring to life, is there one project that feels special to you?
I see all projects as equal, because I don’t get to experience the finished houses myself. But I know that each one becomes a place where families will laugh, rest and create memories. That thought makes every cabin special.
You spend your days surrounded by natural materials. Has that influenced your hobbies or how you enjoy nature outside of work?
Not directly. I’ve always been close to nature – I’m a hunter and spend a lot of time in the forest. But my biggest passion is offroad racing. It’s the thrill of speed, the mud, the adrenaline. It’s also about solving problems under pressure – a real test of both skill and teamwork. In that sense, there are parallels with my work.
For Madars, every day begins with the sound of machinery, the smell of fresh timber and Brenda trotting happily at his side. His story is a reminder that behind every mountain retreat lies not only carefully crafted wood, but also human dedication, resilience and pride.
And the next time you step into your cabin after a day on the slopes or trails, remember: it all began here – with a team in Latvia, a warehouse full of timber, and a dog named Brenda watching it all happen.
