NSI Cites Two for Honors
OBERLIN, Ohio – Late winter is award season for the Natural Stone Institute, and among those honored in late January at StonExpo were Sam Arcot, the 2023 Natural Stone Institute Person of the Year, and Greg Osterhout, who received the 2023 David Fell Spirit of Service Award.
The Person of the Year Award is presented to an individual who’s provided extensive support to the association’s executive team. Arcot has more than 20 years’ experience in the natural-stone industry, the last 14 at Rugo Stone in Lorton, Va. Over that time, he’s been a dedicated leader and tireless volunteer for NSI, where he currently serves on the board of directors and is a Natural Stone Foundation donor.
“Sam’s involvement the past two years has been incredible,” says Jim Hieb, CEO of NSI. “He’s served as a champion for sustainability, extended the association’s relationships with other countries and has been a model advocate for NSI membership.”
Arcot has been a key advocate in the development of the NSI statement of human rights, which complements the sustainable work practices that exist through NSI’s third-party verified Natural Stone Sustainability Standard (ANSI/NSI 373) and the NSI Accreditation program.
He has also led an effort to strengthen the association’s relationship with key trade associations and trade shows in his native India and has identified opportunities for NSI to develop relationships in that country as strong as those that exist with other key stone-producing nations.
The David Fell Spirit of Service Award is presented in memory of David Fell, president of BG Hoadley Quarries. Fell passed away in 2021, and his memory now lives on through this award which is presented to recognize a company or individual involved with the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program.
Osterhout support of the R.I.S.E. program began with NSI’s iinitial nvolvement. Under his leadership, Northern Stone Supply in Oakley, Idaho, stepped in to support the program by donating natural stone to 11 home projects.
Karla Forest, Northern Stone Supply marketing director, calls Osterhout one of the most selfless, generous men she knows, and said it was his choice to designate the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program as the company’s charity of choice.
“Greg doesn’t skimp or cut corners on these projects,” says Forest. “They get the very best we have to offer. Greg often expresses his gratitude for the sacrifice of our military, and he shows it in his actions.”
That includes working evenings and weekends with his staff to ensure the chosen stone is available for the home when it’s needed.
In 2020, Osterhout served as the chair of NSI’s R.I.S.E. Committee. His vision served as the catalyst for growing the association’s involvement with the program, which NSI Members widely adopted and supported . To learn how your company can get involved in future R.I.S.E. projects, go to www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/RISE
