AUSTIN, TX — Artisan Group has inducted two new board members: Kellie Akins, Sales & Marketing Manager of Innovative Surfaces in Minneapolis, MN, and Joe Hoffman, Jr., owner of Hoffman Fixtures Company (HFC) in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK. Akins and Hoffman are taking the slots vacated by charter members Evan Kruger, owner of Solidtops in Easton, MD, and Jon Lancto, owner of Surface Products in Cornelius, NC, after serving their two-year terms. Akins and Hoffman join Brad Pearce, owner of Front Range Stone in Denver, CO, and Layton Day, owner of Bangor Wholesale Laminates in Bangor, ME. Mitch Hires, President of Construction Resources in Atlanta, GA, and Gus Blume, President of Blume’s Solid Surface Products in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as Artisan Group Executive Director Chad Seiders complete the board.

In Akins nearly 12 years with Innovative Surfaces, she has worked in various areas of the business ranging from residential sales, vendor relationship management and product sourcing, to national big box account management, business development, marketing and oversight of Innovative’s residential sales and estimating staff.  

Hoffman graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2001 and started working at HFC. At that time, the company fabricated stone, solid surface and laminate products. In 2008, HFC merged with Aztec Kitchen and Bath, in Tulsa, OK, adding cultured marble to its product offering. Then in 2010, HFC purchased Phoenix Fabrication, a countertop fabrication company in Oklahoma City to extend its customer base.