Thirty Under 30: Evan Hill

By Donna Heiderstadt

One of Evan Hill’s favorite things to do is to tell a waiter, “surprise me” when he’s asked for his order. Why? “It allows me to get outside my comfort zone with new foods,” says the 26-year-old. And yet Evan is totally within his comfort zone when it comes to the kitchen and bath industry. He grew up surrounded by it and in September 2024 stepped into a leadership role as President & Owner of Creative Cabinets and Fine Finishes, the Marietta, GA-based company his mother, Jenna Hill, founded in 2005. Evan’s goal: To grow the brand and identify new opportunities to better serve its customers.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Evan spent time working in investment banking before joining the family business. “When I had the opportunity to step into [my mom’s] role, I was very excited and honored to carry on her legacy, purpose, and vision: making a remodel a positive, memorable experience,” he says, noting that he emphasizes the word positive, because many “memorable” remodeling experiences aren’t.

Another positive experience was Evan’s first major decision as company President to do a software upgrade that transformed how the business is managed. “Implementing JobTread into our business was my most memorable project as it was a challenge early on in my career at Creative Cabinets,” he explains. “It changed everything for our business and our clients — from scheduling and communicating with the client to designing and estimating the project.”

Evan, who says the word that best describes him is “driven,” has overseen a 30 percent year-over-year sales increase at Creative Cabinets while wearing several different hats — bringing foresight and efficiency to jobs in progress, implementing strategic operational and marketing improvements, and evaluating pricing structure. Yet he also finds time to head up the Skilled Labor Initiative for the NKBA’s Georgia chapter. “My goal is to address the skilled trades shortage in the kitchen and bath industry by connecting students and adults with rewarding career paths via events, scholarships, and strategic partnerships,” he says. “This is a work in progress, but I’m excited to build this out.”

When he’s not strategizing, Evan likes to spend time at farmer’s markets with his wife, Lexie, and their dog, Lulu. The couple also enjoys rock climbing and nature-centric travel. “My wife and I visited Iceland this year and it was by far the best experience,” he says. “We spent the week hiking glaciers, swimming in geothermal rivers and lagoons, sightseeing volcanoes and black-sand beaches, and enjoying local food and beverages.” And yes, Evan expanded his culinary comfort zone by trying Iceland’s national dish: hákarl (fermented shark). On the horizon? “I want to visit all seven continents, including Antarctica,” he says. “I love to see nature, experience different cultures, and try different foods.”