Cohen on Natural Stone Institute Exec Committee

OBERLIN, Ohio — Evan Cohen is the newest member of the Natural Stone Institute’s executive committee.

Cohen, president and CEO of Quality Marble & Granite, in Ontario, Calif., joins the committee as board secretary. He is slated to advance to the institute’s board presidency in 2025.

Cohen’s industry service includes speaking at in-person and virtual education events, sharing his expertise with the industry and the design community. He represented the institute in multiple international delegations, and worked on several key initiatives, including the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E program, the Women in Stone mentorship program, and efforts to improve member retention.

“Being on the executive committee for the Natural Stone Institute gives me a great opportunity to help influence and drive the direction and strengthen the community of the organization,” Cohen said. “Having a firsthand awareness of and impact on the great efforts by the association has been key to my continued involvement and efforts to keep moving our industry forward.”

“Evan Cohen’s youthful exuberance and forward-looking view on the natural stone industry will enhance not only the executive committee but the board of directors as whole,” said Buddy Ontra, this year’s board president. “His smaller slab supply business is in concert with the small fabricator businesses that make up much of our membership. His West Coast experience also balances what is a primarily Eastern committee.”

The 2022 Natural Stone Institute executive committee is comprised of Ontra (Ontra Stone Concepts, Bridgeport, Conn.), Vice President Duane Naquin (Stone Interiors East, Gaston, S.C.), Treasurer Katie Jensen (Triton Stone Group, New Orleans), and Cohen.