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TRANSCRIPT
00:00 Brought to You by Quantra Quartz
00:21 Intro
00:31 Bodor New CEO at Park Industries®
02:27 A Word from Quantra Quartz
03:40 New $67.7M Judgement in Silicosis Case
05:31 Sax New NTCA Executive Director
07:13 NSI Elects 3 New Board Members
08:42 $150K in Natural Stone Foundation Grants
11:08 Chitty Awarded NTCA Ring of Honor
13:21 Xiamen Key Buyer Program Opens
15:02 Outro
15:31 Brought to You by Quantra Quartz
00:21
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:31
Park Industries® named Robert Bodor as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Joan Schatz, who is retiring after 20 years in leadership positions with the St. Cloud, Minn.-based company.
Bodor joins Park Industries with extensive experience leading manufacturing and technology organizations. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Maple Plain, Minn.-headquartered Protolabs, where he led the company through a period of growth and modernization while driving product innovation.
“Park has built an outstanding reputation through its commitment to customers, associates and innovation,” said Broder. “I’m honored to join the team, build on that strong foundation and lead this amazing company
Shay Wyley, chairman of Park’s board of directors, called the announcement both a celebration of an extraordinary legacy and confidence in the future.
“Joan’s leadership has helped shape Park Industries into the company it is today, creating a strong foundation for continued success,” Wyley said. “We’re grateful for her contributions and confident that Rob is the right leader to build on that foundation while carrying forward the values that have defined this company for decades.”
Schatz will transition into a role supporting Park’s board of directors and Bodor until she officially retires next April.
Schatz said she’s thankful for the relationships and experiences that have shaped her 20 years with the company.
“It has been a privilege to serve Park Industries alongside such talented associates, loyal customers and dedicated partners,” Schatz said. “Park is in a strong position, and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive under Rob’s leadership.”
03:40
A Long Beach, Calif., jury has awarded a former fabricator $67.7 million in a silicosis workplace-injury case – and possibly set a new precedent in proposed damage assessments.
The case was first filed in April 2023 by Dennys Rene Rivas Williams stating he developed silicosis while working with engineered stone while he was employed at Primus Marble in Pacoima, Calif., between 2015 and 2022.
The difference between this case and five previous judgements for silicosis victims is that a materials manufacturer – in this case Caesarstone – received the majority share of responsibility. That company and its U.S. division, Caesarstone USA, was assessed with 69.1% of the responsibility.
In previous decisions, a fabrication shop has been held largely responsible for damages. In this case, the jury found Primus Marble to be 30% responsible. The remaining 0.9% of responsibility was split among nine other surface manufacturers and suppliers named in the original filing.
The jury awarded $60 million in damages, plus $7.25 million in expenses and loss of earnings and household services. The jury agreed that Caesarstone’s product design was, “a substantial factor in causing harm unquote <break time=“0.25s” /> to Rivas Williams and the benefits of the product design didn’t outweigh its risks.
Rivas Williams received a silicosis diagnosis at age 35 in 2022 and underwent a double-lung transplant in 2024. He is expected to have another double-lung transplant next year.
05:31
Jeremy Sax will be the new executive director of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), beginning January 1. Longtime Executive Director Bart Bettiga will transition into an advisory role through 2027, providing support as Sax – currently the group’s deputy director — takes the helm.
Sax will assume responsibility for NTCA’s overall leadership and operations, while working closely with the board of directors to guide the association’s strategic direction and initiatives that support tile contractors. Sax joined NTCA in September 2024.
Bettiga, who’s been NTCA’s executive director since 2002, will continue to benefit the NTCA with his experience, industry knowledge and longstanding relationships with the industry.
That’s not the only transition the association will see. Assistant Executive Director Jim Olson will retire Dec. 31, following 18 years with the organization. Olson was lauded for his legacy of service to the tile industry, bringing care and attention to the needs of members, partners and colleagues.
NTCA hired Jennifer Ibe as membership sales and sponsorship manager. Ibe will assume the majority of Olson’s membership and sponsorship responsibilities, helping ensure continued service to members and industry partners.
Elena Grant, currently the assistant executive director of marketing and communications and publisher of TileLetter, will assume the position of deputy director. She will continue as Tile Letter’s publisher.
07:13
The Natural Stone Institute (NSI) recently elected three new members to its board of directors. The new directors are Ana Correia, Peter Dominguez and Alexander Zambrano.
Correia is a co-founder and commercial director of ALS Stones in Ataija de Cima, Portugal. She has more than 25 years of experience in the natural stone industry and is actively involved with NSI and other international industry organizations. She believes the future of natural stone depends on how the industry evolves together.
Dominguez is president of California Surfaces in Santa Fe Springs, California. He joined the family-owned company ten years ago and has led it since 2022. Most recently, he has advocated for stone fabricators before the Cal/OSHA Standards Board and testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Trade Representative on natural and engineered-stone imports.
Zambrano is a second-generation stone professional and president of Fabrizio & Sons in Tampa, Florida, a family-owned firm specializing in the restoration of natural stone. He is currently serving as the chair of the NSI Membership Committee. An active industry educator, Zambrano is a CEU speaker and annual presenter at Coverings and has represented NSI at the Marmomac Stone Fair in Verona, Italy.
08:42
The Natural Stone Foundation (NSF) awarded $150,000 in grants for its 2026 funding cycle. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Natural Stone Institute (NSI). This year’s grants focus on two of the NSF’s strategic priorities: standards development and educational initiatives.
The grants support four initiatives focused on advancing industry standards and expanding educational opportunities within the natural stone industry.
The foundation awarded the Natural Stone Institute $30,000 to support its leadership in developing international standards for natural stone through the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO.
The money will help cover costs associated with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which serves as secretariat for the committee and provides an important opportunity for the natural stone industry to be represented in international standards development.
The remaining $120,000 is being split into three separate awards, with the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center being granted $25,000 to expand its academic partnerships and develop customized curricula tailored to the natural stone industry.
$75,000 will go to the NSI to support its collaboration with Environmental Health & Engineering on strategy development and key presentations to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). Specifically, the initiative will help educate regulators on the differences between natural and engineered stone.
An additional $20,000 will aid NSI in updating its silica training program, specifically supporting the development of two new continuing education courses for companies that have already completed the two-year Silica and Safe Slab Handling certificate program.
Nick Dorsey, Natural Stone Foundation director of fundraising and development, stated that none of the grants would be possible without the generosity of its donors, who continue to invest in the future of the natural stone industry.
“Their support allows us to fund meaningful initiatives that address industry needs, and we’re proud to support the people and organizations that bring these projects to life,“ he said.
11:08
The National Tile Contractors Association announces that Noah Chitty of Crossville/AHF Products has been given this year’s NTCA Ring of Honor Award, one of the association’s highest accolades.
The Ring of Honor recognizes individuals whose leadership, service and dedication have made a lasting impact on the tile industry. For those who have worked with Chitty, it celebrates a person who has consistently shared his knowledge, support and help, making those around him better.
Bart Bettiga, NTCA executive director, acknowledged that Chitty has given much to the industry, going well beyond his knowledge of tile.
“What makes Noah special is that he never makes you feel like you should already know the answer,” Bettiga said. “He takes the time to explain, to teach, to listen and help. This generosity has touched countless people throughout our industry.”
Chitty currently serves as vice president of sustainability and technical services for AHF Products and as chairman of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) board. He also chairs ISO/TC 189, the international committee responsible for ceramic tile standards, and as a member of the NTCA technical committee.
Throughout his career, Chitty played a role in advancing tile standards, education, installation practices and technical knowledge, including the development of product and installation standards for gauged porcelain tile panels and has been an advocate for education and training as new tile products and installation technologies have evolved.
“Noah has used his knowledge to help others, to advance our industry and to create opportunities for the next generation,” says Bettiga. “He has made the tile industry better, and more importantly, he has made it better for the people who work in it.”
Chitty was formally recognized at an event at Tile Solutions Plus in Miami the first week in November.
13:21
The Xiamen Stone Fair is now taking applications for its Key Buyer Program.
Designed to serve the needs of qualified buyers and key influences who are serious about driving growth and innovation in the stone industry, the program is designed to optimize the exhibition experience, streamline the stone sourcing process and connect participants with high-quality industry resources.
From now until the 27th edition of the fair, which will be held March 16-19, next year at the Xiamen international Convention Center, members of the Key Buyer Program will be assisted with purchasing needs, sourcing inquiries and project-related questions.
They will also receive regular industry trend reports and new product intelligence, along with curated supplier recommendations tailored to a specific business profile.
Since the show encompasses more than 2,000 suppliers in more than 2 million square feet of exhibition space, finding the right product may take time. The Key Buyer team will design a custom route and facilitate one-on-one introductions to a list of suppliers that match each buyer’s needs.
It will also provide reserved seats for featured forums, seminars and product launches held during the fair and provides participants with special hotel rates, shuttle services and visa application support.
Participation also opens companies to the fair’s online platform Online Xiamen Stone Fair, which features products, projects, videos and event information year-round. For more information, to go to info@stonefair.org.cn.
15:02
For the latest in industry news in an online format, don’t forget Slab & Sheet, which appears on alternate Wednesdays at www.stoneupdate.com. For a transcript of this podcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update, and we’ll see you here again soon.
