Recently, a Midwestern contractor was featured as one of America’s oldest family owned businesses. Opening their doors nearly 150 years ago, they grew their business through the phase out of the horse and introduction of the automobile, the Spanish Flu, two World Wars, the Great Depression, the gas shortage, Black Monday, Y2K and the Recession of the 2000s. How did they manage to sustain their operations despite all of these hardships? Business experts will tell you that a company needs strong leadership, excellent people and unwavering support if they want to survive the test of time. 

Strong leaders cultivate excellent team members that support each other and, in turn, support the business. These individuals combine their talents to grow an organization, the communities in which they operate and their industry as a whole. The support companies provide outside their walls and jobsites grow purposes for the “greater good.” In doing what is best for all concerned, they help to raise the water level to float all boats. The natural stone industry has established a number of associations that benefit their stakeholders and keep us relevant in an ever-changing marketplace. Over time, some of these groups have come and gone, while others have combined their resources to grow stronger together.