Marc Sanderson’s path into tech-driven custom woodwork is anything but typical. As the CEO and founder of Innergy-—a software company reshaping the global woodworking and cabinetry industry—Marc began his career equipped with an MBA and a background in the automotive industry. But it was his skill for blending practical problem-solving with digital innovation that led him to transform woodworking through technology. Taking a well-earned break en-route to Napa Valley, Marc shared with Interior Fitout the story behind Innergy and his forward-looking vision for the industry’s future.
It’s about the ones and zeros
With a natural knack for clarity and a keen business sense, Marc Sanderson’s path from joinery shop-owner to tech innovator feels both unexpected and inevitable.
Today, Innergy—a software company tailored for woodworkers—is becoming a go-to enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for cabinetmakers and joiners worldwide.
Marc was acutely aware—back in 1997—that the woodworking field was not typically associated with advanced technology.
Spotting a gap, he acquired a custom joinery shop called Ron’s Cabinets in Minnesota—a significant shift from his automotive background.
“Our thesis back then was that it wasn’t about the sawdust—it was about the ones and zeros,” Marc says.
“The business we bought had four computers in the whole company and at the time we had 50 or 60 employees, but it was not an information-driven organisation.
“I was looking for an industry that wasn’t tech-savvy, a lagging industry.”
Seeing the potential of digital tools to boost profitability and streamline operations, Marc took matters into his own hands.
Unable to find software that truly served the needs of his business, in 1998 he hired a developer and began building custom solutions from scratch.
“I knew a little coding, but let’s be honest—I was a hack,” he admits.
“From 1998 and beyond, we were writing software, and we were solving sales problems, and it took us time to work through from the beginning of the process to the construction site.
“But we saw very quickly that having control of information could make a difference in profitability in our business.”
Today, Marc’s vision is transforming joinery businesses as his platform serves hundreds of clients worldwide handling everything from the sales and estimating process to construction management, design and now industry education.
Tailored for impact—more than just data
For Marc, Innergy’s mission is about providing the “right information to the right person at the right time.”
In turn, he says that “creates raving fans”.
The ERP system his team has built is meticulously tailored to the fitout industry, seamlessly integrating all aspects of the workflow— from CRM and job costing to invoicing and design.
“We make it so you’re not just putting data in.
“It’s about driving real knowledge to move the business forward.”
Innergy’s design and ERP solutions tackle what Marc sees as the primary bottleneck in the industry—time-consuming processes that affect overall efficiency.
“The ERP system gets the work done—it increases efficiency and is not just about data entry or accounting.
“The Design module is our 3D modelling engineering software, where multiple engineers can operate in at the same time.
“This integration covers the whole nine yards.
“Getting designs out to clients is often the slow point, but our system keeps things moving.”
With over 310 clients across North America, Oceania—including Australia—and the Middle East, Innergy aims to boost precision without compromising creativity.
“You don’t lose creativity in our system because it’s all customisable.
“Each client gets to design materials out of a library of 150,000 material products—we have everything in there.
Bridging the gap between design, manufacturing, and site work
One of the central challenges Innergy addresses is keeping designers, manufacturers, and subcontractors on the same page while preserving each one’s creative input.
Loving a woodworking analogy—Marc calls this the “sawdust trail,” which is the complex chain of communication between everyone on a project.
“The whole industry is an ecosystem—your success is really just information moving smoothly across people,” he says.
With automated reminders and submission prompts, to streamlining communication, Marc says their system triggers notifications so people can stay aligned.
“This way, workflows become efficient without stifling anyone’s creativity.”
Marc acknowledges that many potential clients are nervous about moving from spreadsheets to a formal ERP system.
“Spreadsheets like Smartsheet or Google Sheets are our top competition.
“Technology has always been hard to prove, but there are two reasons for a client to say no.
“The first reason is risk of ROI (return on investment) and risk two is risk of implementation.
“It’s about organisational change. Implementation is about people.”
Marc and his team are tackling this challenge head-on by providing comprehensive support for teams transitioning to the new software.
Offering a range of resources, including training videos, webinars, and gamification elements, each is designed to foster engagement and encourage adoption at all levels.
“We use gamification, where team members can compare progress—it’s a motivator because people don’t like being behind.
“It’s about reducing the fear of implementation and making the leap worthwhile.”
Artificial Intelligence and job-site integration
As technology advances, Marc sees significant potential for Innergy to continue harnessing Artifical Intelligence (AI) and new job-site innovations in ways that could benefit the Australian market.
“AI is the next evolution.
“Our team has been experimenting with tools to automate tasks, like resizing cabinets using language-driven commands.
“AI could even be used to rank project managers based on performance.”
Another promising innovation is bridging the gap between the workshop and the construction site.
“My woodworking business uses hard hats with cameras, uploading footage to the cloud,” he says.
“It’s like a time machine, showing exactly what’s happening onsite versus in the factory.” This remote access to job-site information, he believes, could become indispensable for monitoring quality and boosting efficiency.
Marc believes AI could also be used as a solution to the ongoing labour shortage in woodworking.
“Labour trends in joinery are declining,” he points out.
“AI could help with labour pressures.”
Off the clock—Life beyond the workbench
Marc lives in Florida with his wife and is a proud father of three sons in their 20s, one who is currently pursuing a doctorate in Sydney.
Outside of work, he has a surprising passion— community theatre.
“I like being on stage for musicals. I’ve done Footloose, Shrek, Les Mis, and The Music Man.
“I grew up in a musical family and I used to do musical theatre in high school.
“My mom was a concert pianist, and my dad was a Methodist minister.”
Growing up in Michigan, then moving to Minnesota and now mostly calling the Orlando area of Florida home, Marc likens he and his wife to ‘snowbirds’ migrating to the warmer climes of the south during winter.
As ‘empty-nesters’, the lifestyle seems to suit perfectly.
Marc manages his life much like he runs his company—methodically, with focus on both people and purpose.
“Leadership for me is about being the chief environment officer,” he says thoughtfully. “My role is to set an environment for people to succeed.”
Today, Innergy employs 95 people, with that number expected to grow significantly over the next year thanks to a recent $44 million investment from growth equity firm, Mainsail Partners.
The partnership is expected to accelerate Innergy’s product offerings and global customer base.
Marc’s main focus remains on aligning the team and the company’s objectives.
“You reach a point where you can’t personally connect with every employee, so you have to make sure the team is aligned on where we’re heading.
“It’s a conductor role, keeping everything in harmony.”
As he continues his drive to Napa with his wife by his side, Marc reflects on his career arc.
“I never imagined I’d be leading an international software company for woodworkers,” he admits.
But for a man driven by curiosity and a commitment to innovation, it’s clear that Innergy has an ambitious roadmap ahead.
“We want to be the go-to software for our industry…and we’re on our way—growing and expanding our community of raving fans.”