Joe Duszka, president of Carolina Custom Surfaces (CCS) in Greensboro, NC, is laser-focused on his business. With a background in manufacturing operations, his goal for the company is making the operation run more efficiently – prioritizing tasks and purchases that bring return on investment.

The Natural Stone Institute has provided natural stone and fabrication services for its 35^th home with the Gary Sinise Foundation through its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program. The Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program builds 100% mortgage-free specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. Natural stone and fabrication for U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jay Fondren and his family in Texas were provided by Walker Zanger, Dee Brown, and Real Stone Veneers of Tennessee.

The Natural Stone Institute welcomed two individuals to its board of directors in January: Blake Christensen (Valley View Granite) and Amit Gupta (TAB/Amsum & Ash).

There are many dedicated workers in the construction industry that are responsible for building quality long-lasting structures for many sectors, including residential, commercial, hospitality and healthcare. In particular, Stone World would like to begin highlighting some of those devoted employees in the stone industry. Cortney Boswell, project manager for Chicago-based GI Stone, recently spoke about her role in the construction industry, and more specifically, shared her experiences of being a woman in a male-dominated profession.

Stone Services Group (SSG) has announced it will support the Natural Stone Foundation by donating money with every installation project they complete. The Natural Stone Foundation is the charitable arm of the Natural Stone Institute and serves to provide funding for important stone industry programs and initiatives.

The Natural Stone Institute was proud to make a donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation in support of its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program. The R.I.S.E. program builds 100% mortgage-free specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. This donation was made possible by Salado.

The Natural Stone Institute has provided natural stone and fabrication services for another home through the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment). The R.I.S.E. program builds specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. Natural Stone Institute members have been involved in over 30 projects since 2017.

A collection of some of the different items fabricators can use to handle stone material.

Natural stone significantly influenced a residential design in Idaho, reflecting the sights and textures of the home’s outdoor environment and providing a strong sense of permanence

Since March is historically known as “Women’s Month,” we thought it would be a nice time to shine a light, so to speak, on some of the strong hard-working women of the stone industry. Throughout the month, we will be posting stories, podcasts and video interviews – providing some insight on some of the women behind the scenes of various companies and associations. The dedication and contributions these women bring to their job or leadership role everyday assist in the overall success of their organization.