Melling Granite came to be 19 years ago when my husband decided to go out on his own. He put himself through college working at a cabinet shop and loved it. He loved it so much he stayed for 15 years. However, it was time for him to spread his wings, and so Melling Granite was born.  The plan was for me to come in on days he couldn’t be in the showroom, however, that plan changed in about two weeks. Over the years, this shop has become my baby. I learned more and more about stone -- not just on the sale sides of things but the fabrication side. When the recession hit, we had to dig dip to keep our doors open. That is when I learned how to fabricate and install. I can look back now and be grateful for that challenging time as it forced me to learn and grow. There isn’t anything in my shop that I haven’t done, can’t do, or wouldn’t do.     

SW: What do you like most about your job?

CM: I think the thing I like most about my job is the opportunity to be creative and to be challenged. I like to push the envelope -- playing with rocks can be challenging and limiting. So, figuring out a solution to a problem is rewarding.    

SW: You are very active in Women In Stone (WIS). What benefits to you get out of being in a group such as this? 

CM: I don’t have enough time to list all of the benefits from WIS. However, I can give you a few. First, there is the networking aspect of the group. The group is composed of women from all over the world, and if you have a question, you can bet that one of the ladies has the answer.  Second is the knowledge you gain from interacting with these women. I’m from the countertop fabrication side of the stone industry, but I have learned so much from women that are not from my sector of the industry like quarrying. monument, hardscape, chemical, equipment, engineering, and distribution side of this industry. Knowledge is power, and the more you can learn, the more doors you will have opened to you. Third are the friendships you make that are immediate. It is like your long-lost childhood friend you are just getting back in touch with. We share a common ground, and that common ground gives you a bond and an understanding of one another that doesn’t really need to be communicated. Fourth is the opportunity to give back and share what I have learned. I have a wonderful life that has been afforded to me from this great industry, and the best way for me to say “Thank You” is to give back. 

SW: What would you say to other industry women considering joining?  

CM: What I would say to other industry women considering joining is don’t wait like I did! Join today! Also, remember that you get out of it what you put into it.   

SW: What’s something that many people might not know about you?

CM: Once upon a time, I owned a bridal shop, and I catered weddings. I have always liked designing things, and in high school I had planned on going to fashion design school but ended up taking a different path. My interest for designing things is what makes part of my job fun, challenging, and rewarding. Side note, I love football and wrestling.

SW: When you aren’t working, how do you like to spend your free time?  

CM: In my free time, I love doing anything and everything with my grandkids. They are my world! A lot of our weekends are spent at wrestling tournaments with my son, granddaughter, and grandson, as they are all wrestlers. We are a wrestling family. I also love spending time at my cabin in the mountains, completely unplugged.

SW: Is there anything else you would like to share?

CM: I never imagined that life would have brought me to playing with rocks. Yet, here I am, and I’m loving it or rockin’ it as I like to say! I’m constantly amazed at the beauty that lies just under my feet.