Coastal Stone of Parkton, NC, is the product of a second-generation fabricator, established by owner Pete Tilly in 1996. Tilly's father began the family trend of fabricating in Germany, where he got his certification. Every generation afterward has followed in his footsteps and continued to be a part of the industry. Farron Tilly, Pete's son, is now helping with his father's business, and like his father, he has been involved in the business since he was a boy.

Located in a 10,000-square-foot building, Coastal Stone specializes in the fabrication of granite and marble countertops, and the company also processes stone fireplaces as well a variety of custom work. “Recently we made podiums and altars for churches, and we have also created a lot of furniture,” said Farron Tilly. With the recent completion of a mansion in Lumberton, NC, it doesn't matter how big the project is, according to Tilly. Overall, in terms of production capacity, Coastal Stone produces about five kitchens per week and cuts about four to five slabs a day.

No company is complete without a well-trained staff. Coastal Stone employs 14 workers including Pete Tilly and his son. “We are a family organization, therefore we hire people that we either know or by recommendation by someone we know,” explained Farron Tilly. The staff consists of a mix of specialized employees that can execute every aspect of the fabrication process. “A few of the guys can only run the machines and a few can only polish, but there are five guys that can do everything,” said Tilly. The training program for the newly hired employees relies heavily upon hands-on experience, and employees continue to learn the craft as they go along.