Natural Stone Institute: Annual Awards
OBERLIN, Ohio – The Natural Stone Institute honored two of its exceptional members for their service and craft at its annual awards ceremony Jan. 23 at TISE in Las Vegas.
Monica Gawet of Tennessee Marble Co. received the the 2019 Women in Stone Pioneer Award, and Joey Marcella (Mario & Son) became the group’s latest Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year.
Monica GawetGawet is a third-generation marble fabricator and a first-generation quarrier at Friendsville, Tenn.-based Tennessee Marble, and one of only a handful of female quarry owners in the world. Her industry involvement included serving as president of the then-Marble Institute of America in 2001, as well as on numerous industry committees.
With her hard hat and rubber boots, she can be found out in the quarry, actively promoting safety, strategizing plans for best yield with the quarrymen, and pushing everyone toward professional development.
“I see a respect for her in the men and women that work here that makes it obvious she is not a figurehead; she is the real deal, not allowing even an inch of disrespect or over stepping boundaries from her team,” said Josh Buchanan, business and relationship cultivator at Tennessee Marble.
The construction industry can be a male dominated environment, but Gawet’s peers have witnessed her resiliency to uphold her values. Donna Lester, administrative assistant to Gawet for 23 years, said she has been inspired by her inner strength, bravery, and ability to stay calm, maintaining complete composure in difficult situations and turning them into positive outcomes for all involved.
Learn more at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/pioneeraward.
Joey MarcellaMarcella is not only an outstanding fabricator at Mario & Son in Liberty Lake, Wash., when it comes to all things stone for the residential, commercial, and religious buildings sectors, he is also a brilliant sculptor of museum and collector quality stone objects that are in great demand in the state of Washington and beyond. He is as comfortable with a hammer and chisel as he is at the helm of a multi-axis CNC machine.
Marcella started in the stone industry as a teenager when he assisted his tilesetter father on jobs, and eventually joined him in the family business. When their company saw the demand for natural stone in the kitchen begin to boom, they expanded into countertops. The company recently began working with more cubic material producing altars for churches, fireplaces, and other wall features.
A foray into the world of sculpting came at the suggestion of Marcella’s father-in-law, who was on the board of directors of the local Museum of Art and Culture, which held an annual art auction. He has been sculpting and selling his work ever since.
Most of Marcella’s work has been sold, with the exception of two pieces, including Aura, the 2018 Grande Pinnacle Award winning project. Aura is on display in Mario & Son’s Liberty Lake showroom.
Marcella has shared his knowledge and been a leader within the industry through years of his participation in workshops, lectures, and fabricator roundtables. Looking forward, Marcella plans to immerse himself into the international art scene and is invited to intern at the renowned Massimo Galleni Studio in Pietrasanta, Italy, where he and his wife hope to establish a part-time residence.
To learn more about the Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award, visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/craftsman.
Get the news of the industry with Slab & Sheet, the e-newsletter from Stone Update. Sign up for free delivery here.
For the latest industry info, check Stone Update on Twitter and Facebook.
Experience the totally new Stone Update Magazine online.
