The Nominating Committee forStone Worldmagazine has named Jon Lancto of Surface Products in Cornelius, NC, as Fabricator of the Year. The award was presented at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2014 in Las Vegas, NV. Criteria for the award is as follows:
  • cooperation in sharing technology with the industry
  • willingness to pioneer in the use of new technology
  • fostering educational programs for the training of stoneworkers in industry methods
  • promoting technological progress through association work

The nomination for Jon Lancto reads as follows:

Jon’s goals in the stone fabrication business are to produce the best quality product and great customer service in the area. He knew that this could only be done if he embraced new state-of-the-art technology. This includes a fully digital shop (from digital templating, CNC sawing and CNC routing), Slabsmith Technology, Cloud-based Project Management and CRM Software ex. Moraware, Synchronous Flow Manufacturing Methods and Technology, a Fleet Tracking and Monitoring System, Transactional and Lead Generation website. He also developed a bar code inventory System to integrate with Moraware.

Jon has a strong foundation and belief of investing in the stoneworking community. As a result, he has been a very active member of a number of associations and events to help spread the wealth of knowledge and expertise among/between fabricators. He is a founding member and Chairman of the MIA Accreditation Program; frequent speaker at StonExpo on various topics, including installation and equipment choices/solutions; helped write the MIA’s Countertop Installation Standards, Chair of the Park Industries Users Group I, facilitating Discussions/Best Practices with fabricators around the country semi-annually; Founding Member and Past Board Member of the Artisan Group of fabricators which shares best practices among its members; Current MIA Board Member; MIA Engineered Stone Task Force Chairman; Founding Board Member of ISFA; Past President of ISFA.

Jon Lancto is one of the most responsive, innovative, and involved members within the stone industry. He demonstrates commitment to innovation, investing in association participation (both leadership and membership roles), as well as being instrumental in developing industry standards.

The current roster of winners of the Stone World Fabricator of the Year Award is as follows:

2013 — Jon Lancto, Surface Products

2012 — Mike Yates, Counter Solutions

2011 — Stuart Young, The Granite Shop

2010 — Matt Lansing, Stone Innovations

2009 — Scott McGourley, Kasco Stone

2008 — Paul Menninger, Capitol Granite & Marble

2007 — Ron Hannah, Cadenza Granite & Marble

2006 — Dick Laliberte, Ripano Stoneworks

2005 — G.K. Naquin, Stone Interiors

2004 — Tim and Scott Buechel, Buechel Stone Corp.

2003 — Kip Cameron, Granite-Tops

2002 — George Fox, Luck Stone Corp.

2001 — Fred Becker, Becker & Becker Stone Co.

2000 — Connie and Brenda Edwards, TexaStone Quarries

1999 — Walter Dusenbery, Johnson-Atelier School, Sculpture

1998 — Harold Stobbe, Owen Sound Ledgerock

1996 — Willard Vetter, Vetter Stone Co.

1995 — Chuck Monson, Dakota Granite Co.

1994 — Linus Dingman, Cold Spring Granite Co.

1993 — David Teitelbaum, Cathedral Stoneworks

1991 — Wilbur Bybee, Bybee Stone Co.

1989 — Tony Ramos, New England Stone Industries

1988 — Jim Stengel, Dakota Granite Co.

1987 — David Elliott, Elliott Stone Co.