Burn the Boats. Build the Doors. How Scott Colby Went All-In on Hospitality—and Never Looked Back

Описание: Burn the Boats. Build the Doors. 🔥🚪
How Scott Colby Went All-In on Hospitality—and Never Looked Back

What does it really mean to have no Plan B?
In this episode of the Partners in Progress (PIP) Podcast, host Kory Cutler sits down with Scott Colby, founder of Architectural Concepts, to unpack a decades-long journey built on grit, loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way—especially when it’s harder.
From maxing out credit cards and changing his voice on the phone to sound like multiple departments…
To building a U.S.-based door manufacturing plant when everyone else was outsourcing…
Scott’s story is a masterclass in ownership, ethos, and what happens when you truly burn the boats.

This isn’t a story about doors.
It’s a story about people, culture, and going all in.

🎙️ Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways

Why “customer satisfaction is worthless—customer loyalty is priceless” 🤝

How private equity reshaped (and in some cases damaged) the door & hardware industry

The real story behind founding Architectural Concepts (AC)—and why there was never a Plan B

What it’s like to start a business during a recession… and then build a factory right before COVID

Why hospitality renovations demand a totally different approach to doors, frames, and hardware

How field-measuring every opening saves owners hundreds of thousands of dollars

Why Scott believes employees come first—always

Building leaders from scratch, including training one of the best “door guys” in the business

Made in America manufacturing 🇺🇸—the strategy, the challenges, and the reality

Leadership lessons from panic attacks, payroll stress, and perseverance

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps
00:17 – Intro & meeting Scott
01:40 – Culture, ethos, and what’s been lost in the industry
02:45 – Early career, work ethic, and learning the value of a dollar
06:30 – Entering hospitality and working with Marriott & Kimpton
12:00 – Private equity, burnout, and the breaking point
15:30 – Founding Architectural Concepts (AC) with no backup plan
18:30 – “Burn the boats” mentality and appetite for risk
22:00 – Perseverance, near-failure, and why Plan B doesn’t work
26:15 – The leap into manufacturing doors
31:45 – How to build a door plant from scratch
35:00 – Why hospitality is the focus
38:30 – Why doors, frames, and hardware are the hardest part of renovations
46:00 – Saving owners money through value engineering
47:20 – Made in America vs overseas manufacturing
54:30 – Leadership, loyalty, and building people up
1:07:00 – Rapid fire questions
1:09:00 – The kindest things that matter most

👷 About the Guest
Scott Colby is the founder of Architectural Concepts, a hospitality-focused door, hardware, and manufacturing company serving hotel owners, brands, and contractors nationwide.
Known as “the door guy” in hospitality, Scott is respected for his no-nonsense honesty, servant leadership style, and relentless focus on loyalty over margins. His company is built on culture, accountability, and long-term partnerships—not transactions.

🏗️ About the Host
Kory Cutler is a partner at Axis Hospitality Construction, a family-owned, hospitality-focused construction firm specializing in hotel renovations across the United States.

🔔 Subscribe & Stay Connected
If you’re a contractor, owner, or operator navigating leadership, growth, and complexity in hospitality construction:

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with founders, builders, and leaders who choose ownership over convenience and culture over cost.
📌 Learn more about Axis Hospitality Construction
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