After introductions were made, the morning kicked off with a panel discussion about material trends and stone maintenance. "I had the privilege of attending the Natural Stone Institute’s Texas Stone Summit; it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry professionals and share insights,” said Jacqueline Tabbah of International Stoneworks Inc. in Houston, TX. “As a panelist on an all-female panel, I was able to discuss important topics such as stone trends, fabrication, installation, and restoration -- areas that are essential to maintaining quality and efficiency in the stone industry.”

Tabbah was joined by Emely Roque of Yellowstone Marble & Granite, a Houston-based fabrication shop specializing in high-end residential work, and Fernanda Stuani, general manager of Cosentino Houston. “The well-rounded trends panel set the tone,” said Ontra. “Setting end-user expectations from first the supplier, then fabricator, and finally, the restorer perspectives, is a project-by-project journey. It helps me understand what everyone in the chain of a job, even the simplest, experiences, and how we can help each other achieve success.”

Robert Brown, safety director at Camarata Masonry Systems in Houston, joined Ontra for a discussion on safety. Brown pointed out that in addition to taking proper safety measures in the shop, precautions and procedures also are critical on a jobsite. Ontra touched on the “Silica and Slab Safety” certificate offered by NSI. This four-hour online certificate provides training materials for preventing silicosis, safe slab handling and creating a safety program.

“Having Camarata Masonry safety manager Robert Brown join us put a real commercial/residential balance to the safety discussion,” said Ontra. “Personally, I'm very aware of the silica issues from a countertop fabricator perspective, but I learned a great deal on how silica is handled on the larger commercial jobsites.”

In addition to the educators and participants, several sponsors were at the SIE event showing their support and sharing their specific expertise. Stone World and NSI would like to thank Big Dog Adhesives, Dry-Treat, GoClips, Mapei, MORE Surfaces, and The International Surface Event (tise) for their support.

In addition to breaks were attendees could network and talk with sponsors to learn about their products, Cosentino also provided a facility tour. Another highlight of the day were the live demonstrations given to illustrate the resistance of Cosentino’s Dekton and Sensa brands.

The day concluded with breakout groups where attendees were able to choose an area that interested them the most. The personalized groups included discussions on technical, business management, and marketing. “The discussions were lively, informative, and I walked away with new perspectives on how we can continue to elevate our stone restoration work and meet the evolving needs of our clients,” said Tabbah.

According to Stuani, “The Cosentino Houston team was proud and honored to host the Texas Stone Summit by NSI and Stone World. It was inspiring to see so many busy fabrication professionals dedicate their time to a full day of education, networking, and collaboration. A highlight of the day was participating in a dynamic panel discussion alongside talented industry partners Emely Roque and Jacqueline Tabbah, where we explored current countertop trends, and I was excited to share how Cosentino is continuing to evolve and innovate in the ever-changing world of surfacing materials.

“We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Natural Stone Institute, Stone Worl,d and all the sponsors who partnered with us to make this event possible,” Stuani went on to say. “Your support and commitment to the industry are truly appreciated.”

The next SIE event is scheduled for May 8th at Arizona Tile’s facility in West Valley City, UT. To learn more and to register, as well as to view the rest of the 2025 event calendar, visit www.stoneindustryeducation.com.