Spring 2017 The partnerships of today help build the workforce of tomorrow When you think about your business, hopefully you think not just about today, but also about tomorrow. You have invested a great deal, both physically and monetarily in building your business, and you want to make sure that it will be successful not just today but tomorrow as well. You have control over many aspects of your business and you plan accordingly. You invest in the future through smart expansion, you responsibly acquire new equipment and you build a solid customer base. Yet there is one area of your business over which you really have very little control, and that is labor. Yes, technically you have the ability to hire whomever you want and of course you would like to find the best person for the job. In today’s labor environment however, finding any employees, let alone skilled ones, can be challenging at best. Because of this and out of necessity, many employers are left with no choice but to hire whoever happens to show up inquiring about a job. I continually hear employers talk about the shortage of not only skilled labor but of labor in general; it is a worrisome trend that is only getting worse. In addition, even offering better pay does not seem to be curbing this trend. In many cases, even the offer of higher pay is not enough to entice the current labor force into staying with the job or for that matter, even wanting to work at all. I currently have the opportunity of sitting on the board for workforce development in Northeast Georgia. I can tell you that this labor issue is not unique to Elberton or to Georgia for that matter; this issue is a trend that is being seen and felt across the country. There are jobs available, good ones at that! However, it seems more often than not, they go unfilled or a new employee only stays with them for a short period of time because, well, it is too much work. There are a variety of reasons that today’s labor force is not embracing the working environment as has been done by generations before them. If I had to point to one thing, I would say that it is because our younger generations are not being required to work in the same manner that has been the norm for generations. Ask a youth of today to program a computer or sequence a video game and it is no problem. However, ask that same youth to read a tape measure or troubleshoot and correct an issue on the production line and more than likely, they will struggle. It’s not that they can’t do these tasks, it’s that most likely they have never had any exposure to these tasks. Employers need to understand that the workforce of today is capable but they will have to be taught. Therefore, more than ever, it is essential that your company have a training program to help develop the workforce of today. In this issue of our Graniteer, you will read about how the EGA is partnering with our local high school to address workforce development and to create new training programs. By doing this, EGA is ensuring that the future workforce of Elberton is being developed today. Elberton Granite Association donates Monucad system to local high school The Elberton Granite Association recently donated a MonuCad operating system to the Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) Department at Elbert County Comprehensive High School (ECCHS). This exciting development will create career opportunities to the students interested in learning CAD design. EGA member Quinn Floyd, of A.Q. Stone Design, personally delivered the software to the school. Students in the school’s “Applications in Granite Technology” classes will be learning this skill set with Quinn’s expertise. ECCHS will also continue partnering with granite businesses for tours and guest speakers in developing a seamless transition for students into the local economy. Kim Fuller, ECCHS CTAE Director, alongside Quinn Floyd, A.Q. Stone Design, proudly shows off the school’s new MonuCad software. Quinn Floyd, A.Q. Stone Design, demonstrates and discusses the MonuCad program with students participating in the Applications in Granite Technology class. For more information on Nick Beshiri and his contributions to the school’s audio/visual department, as well as his perspectives on the Elberton granite industry, see page 3 for an insightful editorial written by ECCHS student Emma Smith. The MonuCad stencil cutting plotter arrives at the ECCHS Granite Lab. Present were (L-R): Michael Williams, ECCHS Granite Lab instructor; Quinn Floyd, A.Q. Stone Design; Nick Beshiri, ECCHS Audio/Video technology film instructor; Chris Kubas, Executive Vice President, Elberton Granite Association; and Matthew Pruitt, Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Elberton Granite Association. The new and revamped “Applications in Granite Technology” class recently went out learning in the community. In addition to receiving MonuCad training over the next few weeks of the semester, Instructor Lori Starrett is currently taking the students out to visit local industries to see opportunities available. The class recently visited with Jeremy Pullen in the Star Granite & Bronze drafting department. Students were able to ask questions and gain insight into the skills they will soon be learning. Pictured with Pullen are students Austin Kelley, Ashley Bryant, Dorian Phelps and Tarodrick Stanley. The ECCHS Applications in Granite Technology class with Instructor Lori Starrett, (back row, left) and MonuCad instructor Quinn Floyd, A.Q. Stone Design. NEW TECHNOLOGY CREATES A ‘VISION’ FOR ELBERTON GRANITE INDUSTRY’S FUTURE GENERATIONS Guest Editorial by Emma Smith, student at Elbert County Comprehensive High School The Elberton Granite Association’s Executive Vice President, Chris Kubas, has stated that the EGA intends to help the future of the local granite industry by improving the technologies available to students in the local community. In demonstrating this commitment, the EGA made a new contribution from EGA to the Elbert County Comprehensive High School’s (ECCHS) Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) Department in the school’s Granite Lab. In addition to a brand new granite cutter for the students and teachers to use to advance their knowledge, ECCHS’ Broadcast/Video Production Instructor, Mr. Nicholas Beshiri, used his experience with various technologies to create three unique films capturing the process of the granite production industry. Before the film instructor received the job at ECCHS, he worked as a videographer and editor in Athens, GA. Mr. Beshiri was first inspired to participate in the project due to his idea of filming a documentary on the granite industry in Elberton as a thesis project for his Master’s Degree. He states, “After meeting with the EGA board to discuss the new monument design class at the high school and the donation of the cutter, Chris Kubas also expressed the need for some new videos for the granite museum as well as marketing videos.” When asked about his prior knowledge of granite production, Mr. Beshiri replied “I honestly did not have very much knowledge about Elberton or granite production when I first started. I had done research for my Master’s Thesis, but it was not very much and nothing can really beat seeing what goes on in the sheds first hand. Since filming, I feel as though I have a basic knowledge of how the industry works, but I still have a lot of things to learn.” As a student of the Broadcast/Video Production class, and after seeing these videos, I was in awe of the amazing footage the video projects contained. When questioned about capturing the videos, Mr. Beshiri replied, “There was a lot of planning that went into scheduling the filming dates, factoring in the hours available for each business, as well as my schedule and that of the EGA representative, Matthew Pruitt. Filming in the quarries was probably the most difficult task because we had to plan around their work schedule to get shots of certain techniques, like blasting. The videos were filmed using Sony PXW-X70 HD Camcorders and GoPro 4 cameras. We made use of a DJI Phantom drone to get certain shots of the quarries and inside of the shed at Eagle Granite.” After viewing these videos, it was obvious a good amount of time was put into each one. I asked Mr. Beshiri what some of the neatest things he learned after putting in the time to create these videos were, and his reply was this: “Honestly, I would have to say that I was in awe of the entire process in general. Normal members of the public have no idea the amount of time and skill it takes to create granite monuments as well as the number of people involved. Filming these videos has given me a new appreciation for the industry and the craftsmanship that goes into each product they produce”. Mr. Beshiri also shared how surprised he was by the number of people and companies involved in the granite production process. “Granite production is an industry that creates a huge amount of jobs for the community and many of them are not simply working in a granite shed.” While visiting the sheds and capturing the footage, Mr. Beshiri visited several different companies and quarries including Eagle Granite, Keystone Granite, Star Granite & Bronze, Jenson Etching and Glass Art Imaging. Since the new cutter was donated to the new monument design class at the high school, it led me to wonder if students of ECCHS’ Granite Department often find jobs in the granite industry following high school. After asking Mr. Beshiri if he saw any former students during his visits to the companies, he said, “I did see several former students working in various jobs in the industry, and many were students that I had coached in the past”. Considering these statistics, it continues to validate how the new equipment will be used to its utmost potential. This filming experience was also not wasted on Mr. Beshiri. He plans to use the knowledge and resources he gained through this project to enhance his teaching methods. He is going to utilize the videos by allowing his students to get real world experience in filming and editing by using the projects as templates and allowing students to work with the footage. “I will show students the videos that have been completed and then give them access to the footage for them to create their own videos. Hopefully it will be a good learning experience in editing large amounts of footage and creating projects for a professional organization.” However, Mr. Beshiri is not letting the inspiration stop there. He also plans to use his experience with EGA to help ECCHS’ CTAE Department start more partnerships with businesses in the community, and hopes the new partnerships will allow more student-controlled projects with an advisor overseeing them. “The Elberton Granite Association is hoping to continue expanding into the future through new technology.” Chris Kubas, Executive Vice President, Elberton Granite Association Emma Smith is a Junior at Elbert County Comprehensive High School and a member of the school newspaper staff and is part of the Blue Devils News Network. The Elberton Granite Association welcomes new member TRI-STAR USA, INC. Tri-Star USA, Inc. recently joined the EGA as a voting member. Tri-Star is a quarry owned by John M. Mercer. A native of Elbert County, John has been quarrying for over 40 years, having been involved with the family business for most of his life. He has owned and operated Tri-Star for 22 years, and has approximately ten employees. Tri-Star quarries Medium Blue Grey dimension stone, primarily for the local Elberton market. The EGA is proud to have Tri-Star as a member, and we welcome Mr. Mercer and his crew to the association! TRI-STAR USA, INC. 1054 Double Bridges Road Elberton, GA 30635 706-988-1390 MercerJohn92@yahoo.com The Community Pride Committee selected Rucker Trucking & Leasing, Inc. as March’s Industry of the Month. Pictured at the recognition are: (L-R): Bill Brown, Ashley Miller, Russ Rucker, Pam Brown, Melissa Hall, Carson Floyd, and Phyllis Brooks. Congratulations to Rucker Trucking! Michael and Sarah Baston of Baston Monuments, Inc. manufactured and donated these beautiful planters located at the entrance to Elberton’s newly-remodeled Samuel Elbert Hotel. Star Granite & Bronze is proud to introduce three of its Customer Service Specialists, each of whom bring a tremendous amout of skill and valuable experience to the team. The EGA is proud to welcome them to Star Granite & Bronze, and we wish them continued success in their positions. Sadina Moon is the Customer Service Specialist for the Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama territories. Her previous experience in the granite industry made for an easy transition into her role within the Star family. Sadina states, “I like working at Star because of its family-like environment and because it’s so customer service oriented. I also enjoy the busy-ness of each day!” In her free time Sadina enjoys being with family and friends and spending time outside. Originally from Elberton, Sadina resides in Bowman with her husband and two children. Lynda Byrd West was born and raised in Elberton and brings a wealth of experience to her position as Customer Service Specialist, having worked in the granite industry for 22 years. Lynda’s territories include Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennesee. Lynda enjoys being at the lake “every chance I can”, and spending time with her husband and two children. When asked how she feels about working at Star, Lynda said, “I enjoy Star because it’s such a family oriented workplace. Everyone works hard, but they know how to laugh.” Samantha Greene came to Star having no prior experience in granite. However, Samantha quickly grasped the skills necessary to become a Customer Service Specialist. She serves the Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas territories. Samantha is proud to be part of the team at Star, and is currently training a new employee. “I love my job here, because of the relationships we develop, and I like working with many different customers. And training someone gives me a chance to get better at my job. I can’t say enough nice things about Star and how well they treat their employees. It makes coming to work a real pleasure.” Local Artist Brings Talent to Laser Design Team Eagle Granite Company is proud to introduce talented young artist Adam Davis as a member of its design team. Davis, an Elberton native and graduate of the University of Georgia, joined Eagle’s team as a hand etcher and laser artist two years ago. Davis is also a noted painter, having been featured in galleries across the nation. Recently, Davis’ artwork The Dreamer, inspired by Davis’ 5-year old son Gryffin, has been featured in “Poets & Artists” magazine and in a gallery exhibition titled, “Sight Unseen” at Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America, and when he’s not in the studio at Eagle, he spends time in his personal studio, primarily working with charcoal, oil, chalk, and gold leaf. He describes his artwork as “simultaneously realistic and magical...the inner workings of the heart and mind.” A graduate of Elbert County Comprehensive High School, Davis began a work study program in laser etching while in high school. “By the time I was in third grade I knew I wanted to do art. When I was a teenager, I got to apprentice with Troy Ayers (also a designer at Eagle) back when he had his own etching studio. I worked with Troy for years as I developed my own artistic interests.” The combination of Davis, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UGA, and Troy Ayers, a gradute from the Art Institute, provides Eagle’s customers with a design team capable of artistic vision coupled with practical graphic design experience. Together, the duo have created many unique designs that are, according to Davis, “based on many of the traditional images you see on monuments, but with specialized elements that are interpretive and interchangeable. Plus we do a lot of unique hand etching that we’re proud of because it gives us a chance to express ourselves as artists and it provides Eagle’s customers with a special memory of their loved ones.” “It’s great working here,” said Davis, “I get to be here every day etching and drawing, and then I go home and work in my art studio. It’s a good way to live.” A.Q. Stone Design recently added a new MonuCad stencil cutter to its equipment line, and with it, added value to its customers. As a result of the continued strong demand in the granite industry for A.Q. Stone’s high-quality, personalized stencils, the company now has the capability of running four cutters (utilizing different sizes of stencil rubber) simultaneously. According to Quinn Floyd, Owner of A.Q. Stone Design, “Having this new, smaller cutter allows us to be more efficient. The benefit to both the customer and A.Q. Stone is that we can spend more time on personalized service and less time loading the cutters and changing out the stencil rubber. It also means we can get jobs turned over more quickly. We value our customers and we are always looking for ways to better serve them.” With a robust assortment of cutters and stencil, A.Q. Stone is an excellent choice for professional CAD design, professional service, and quick turnaround. The latest addition to the stencil cutting operation. This MonuCad cutter is capable of running rubber stencil in 15” - 18” widths. Personalized, professional services are the hallmark of A.Q. Stone Design. With its continued growth comes the need to add new talent to the existing dynamic team. As a result, Courtney Todd has joined the staff as an assistant to Owner Quinn Floyd. “Courtney is a great asset to the company, and she helps out by running the cutting machines. We stay busy throughout the day, every day. And believe me, there are days when we don’t know what we’d do without her!” The EGA welcomes Courtney, and we wish her good luck in her new position. The MonuCad stencil cutters in action. Pictured above are (2) 24” widths, (1) 30” width, and the new addition, capable of cutting 15”-18” widths. Johnson Machine Shop recently designed and fabricated a new small hand polishing machine on a swivel post that can easily be moved to another location where there is no beam (such as a crane runway beam) on which to mount a swivel post. It can be used to polish the top of dies or small pieces of stone and/or to hone surfaces of stones. Owner Steve Johnson states that, “This is a very useful mobile polisher in that it can be bolted to the floor and also be moved around to accommodate whatever jobs need to be produced. Besides being mobile, it’s very easy to use and can perform some tasks that previously might have had to be worked by hand.” With its innovative design and ease of use, this custom polisher helps granite companies by reducing labor costs and increasing job efficiency. For more information, contact Steve or Clark Johnson at 706-283-5750. At right, owner Steve Johnson demonstrates the swiveling capabilities of the polisher. The suspension rail, constructed of 5” channel with a 1-7/16” main shaft, utilizes a 2-speed main drive motor ranging from 2.5 HP to 5 HP, with weight adjustment for increasing pressure on the grinding wheel manually operated by the drum switch. The suspension post is constructed of a 4” wide beam. A heavy duty Timken roller bearing is totally enclosed in the housing with a 1-15/16” pillow block top bearing. The swiveling polisher, mounted on a suspension arm constructed of 4” x 4” W.F. beam, can carry a variety of grinding wheels up to 18” and can be raised and lowered in a range of 3’ - 4’ utilizing a 3/4 HP gear reduction motor. The support beam for the swivel post is mounted to a 1-1/4” x 46” x 46” steel base plate that can be bolted to the floor and relocated as needed. Porcelains Unlimited Develops Dual Partnerships with “Eternal Timekeeper” and “End Plans” People are constantly looking for ways to remember loved ones who pass away. Porcelains Unlimited, a company that creates memorabilia and urns to help remember deceased friends and family members, is proud to announce a new product line of personalized urns and engraved and indoor personalized items with fast turnaround. These products are unique to the industry. The new line is made from high quality materials and helps to celebrate the lives of those who have passed. Additionally, Porcelains Unlimited has partnered with Eternal Time Keeper to allow families to add electronic memorial site sensor tags to nearly every single item in their catalog. These two new endeavors will allow people to further remember their passed loved ones and are projected to be a big hit on the market. When people lose someone they love, it is important that they have ways of remembering the soul they lost. The new line by Porcelains Unlimited offers high quality products that further honor those who are missed. Products include porcelain books, plaques, porcelain photos, keepsakes and more. By partnering with Eternal Time Keeper, Porcelains Unlimited gives customers the flexibility and technology to add sensors to items that direct to an online memorial site. This advanced technology cannot be found anywhere else. Taking it one step further, Porcelains Unlimited has also partnered with End Plans, a funeral planning website and publication, that aims to provide all the resources a person needs to set up their own funeral arrangements. A recent addition to their website is the launch of a new section containing skilled monument makers broken down by state, offering quality choices for memorials which will stand the test of time. Rather than bland generic memorials, these monuments, created by professionals, serve as a testament that reflects the life that passed away. “We are very happy to feature high quality monument companies on our blog, making it simple for a user or web visitor to connect with skilled professionals,” commented a spokesperson from End Plans. “This is an important part of funeral planning, as the monument is a lasting memory that family and friends will see and visit well into the future. When using the less than impressive choices a funeral home will generally select isn’t a good option, now our blog makes finding a premium option very easy.” According to End Plans, monument companies are featured in every state, with attention paid to only feature talented, reliable and respected choices. End Plans is well respected as funeral planning guide and end of life planning blog that provides an extensive collection of actionable information and useful articles covering this challenging area where many people are in need of experienced guidance. Every effort is made to stay unbiased and provide trustworthy reviews, content and end of life tips. For more information, visit porcelainsunlimited.com or contact Tanner Lewis at 866-620-4460 or tanner@porcelainsunlimited.com. Design Mart has just released version 2.0 of the cloud-based Monument Designer, according to Mike Fernandez, owner of Design Mart. “We are constantly upgrading the app to provide users with more features while also making it more user friendly,” Fernandez says. “Since it is web-based anyone who is able to negotiate web sites and browse the web can operate our Online Designer.” As shown below there are 12 new user interface options: 1. New, faster export and email filters for producing color pictures. Color images are now more compact and generate quicker than ever. There are also faster export options vector drawings that are compatible with Gerber, MonuCad, Corel Draw, Illustrator, AutoCad, Flexi, Lxi, Signlab, WinPC, and many more. 2. All new Global Search feature allows search terms multiple words or portions of words yielding more results in each category. 3. Search results are shown for each category as a red number at the bottom right corner of each category icon. In this example a search for “Angels” resulted in 28 Classic Monuments featuring Angels, 1 Blank Monument featuring an angel sculpture, 154 Angel sandblast components for placement on monument designs, and 18 laser etching Angels. 4. All D-mart books are available for browsing or searching. These monuments are complete and ready for names and dates Components may be removed, and others may be added. The user’s view may be changed from 1 to 4 columns depending on the size and number desired for preview at one time. 5. Users now see numbers in the top right corner of each representative component icon to display the number of search result in each category. 6. Keyboard Shortcuts are easy to display and allow users access to tools such as grid and measurement tools when needed. 7. Select, Pan, and Zoom tools have been moved to the bottom of the screen for easy access at any time. 8. The enhanced Layer Management tool makes it easy to select a layer or component for placement or change. Layers may be easily moved in front of or behind on another by simply clicking and dragging. 9. Granite colors may be quickly chosen for each monument base and vase. Each color is available in three textures: polish, frost, and rock pitch. Prices adjust as sides and tops are changed from rock pitch to sawn or polished. 10. Alignment tools make it easy to align one row of text with another, align text within a panel, and align panels on a monument. 11. Undo and Redo buttons have been moved to make them easily accessible at any time during the layout process and are part of the default user interface. 12. Text options are easy to find, and they allow easy selection of lettering style, size, line spacing, letter spacing, and text effects such as Skew and Rotate. Even with all the new features the default User Interface (shown at left) remains very simple and easy to navigate according to Design Mart CTO Kelly Storm. “We listened to our users, and added features they requested,” says Storm. “But we also found ways to present the new features in a user-friendly way through the use of dockers and flyout menus. This new user interface gives users a lot more “real estate” or screen space to work with. In each new release we have found ways to minimize tools and increase the working canvas, while making tools easy to reach.” When all dockers and flyouts are closed, users are left with a simple, clean view of the monument. From here users can export color renderings or import the image into a contract for client approval as shown at left. Although the new features make it look like a fully functional application that would typically be downloaded or installed from a CD, it is still all cloud based, according to Fernandez. “The fact that the Online Designer is cloud based means users can access their work anywhere at any time.” Says Fernandez, “Users do not have to be in front of a PC or CAD program in a back room. They may work from a showroom, outdoor display, cemetery or an office to create and customize monuments that can be sent to any CAD program as shown below. All of a user’s work is saved on the cloud and can be opened and edited at any time.” When asked about operating systems and various browsers Storm says a lot of effort goes into ensuring that the app is easy for everyone to use regardless of the type of device or browser. “Browsers are contantly changing and evolving,” says Storm. “These changes require constant vigilance to ensure that we are compatible across the board. This app can be used on Macs and any PCs with Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome.” The Online Catalog portion of the platform is compatible with phones and all devices as shown below, and the Designer itself is compatible with devices including iPads and tablets. A free 30-day trial is available at www.designmart.com. Please call Design Mart at 800-736-7455 or email d-mart@designmart.com for more information. Downtown Display Kings Keystone Dixie Brownstone Eagle Flatwoods River Edge Eagle Granite Company fabricated this distinctive monument for Brown Memorials in Florence, SC. According to Bran Oswalt of Brown Memorials, “The glass is a custom produced piece. The cross is Strassacker. The etching was a combination of two pictures provided by the family and etched by our artist, Dan Garrison. And as always, Eagle does great work!” The monument is located at Hillcrest Cemetery in Conway, SC. This beauty was fabricated by King’s Monument Company for Johns-Carabelli Company in Cleveland, OH. It features a bench seat notched into an upright die as well as a bench support that doubles as a vase. The die itself has a bronze inset with a beautifully curved top and artistic sandblast details. Mike Johns of Johns-Carabelli states, “The people at King’s are really good folks. They did a great job with this one!” The monument is located in Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, OH Dixie Granite Company produced this interesting monument for Worthen Memorials located in Albuquerque, NM. According to Erin at Worthen, “His family wanted to create something in the way that people knew him. His favorite thing to do was to putter around town on his tractor; he spent a lot of time visiting friends and driving around on it.” Unfortunately, during one of his tractor outings, he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Worthen Memorials contacted Dixie about creating this tribute for a man who was loved by many in his local community. Additionally, the base features two stars to acknowledge Mr. Daves’ lifelong devotion to the Dallas Cowboys. “Dixie did a great job with it”, said Erin, “it’s just what the family wanted.” The monument is located in Dove Creek Cemetery in Dolores County, CO. This dignified memorial was fabricated by Central Granite Company for Beall Memorial Art located in Austin, TX. It honors the life of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Deborah “Borah” Van Dormolen and her unswerving devotion to her community and her country. She was an accomplished soldier, businessperson, Republican political leader, legislative advocate, olympic athlete, and community leader. After 23 years in the military, Borah poured her energy and sense of duty into Texas. She inspired and motivated others to be the best they could be. Prior to her death, Borah made arrangements to become an organ donor. According to the Texas State Cemetery’s tribute page, this was done because her desire was to “give sight to someone who is blind so that they can finally see the flag she so dearly defended.” Even in death, Borah will continue to touch lives; her undaunted spirit living on in others. This monument is located in Texas State Cemetery in Austin, TX. This regal monument is located in St. Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH. It was designed by Joyce Kitsmiller, who works at the cemetery, and produced by Dixie Granite Company. According to Joyce, “The family wanted a simplistic style, but one that was also distinctive. We drove around the cemetery looking at several monuments, and we ended up combining characteristics from different monuments to arrive at this design. The family is thrilled with how it turned out!” Eagle Granite Company fabricated this elegant mausoleum for A Matalucci & Son Memorial Artisans in Cape May, NJ. A stately cross sits atop the mausoleum, and wrought iron gates are mounted on both the front and back. According to a spokesperson at A Matalucci, “This gets lots of compliments. The family is very pleased with it! The mausoleum is located in Cold Spring Cemetery in Cape May, NJ. This beautiful monument was designed and fabricated by River Edge Granite Company for Mr. Roy Russell of Comer, GA. According to Mr. Russell, “The people at River Edge went above and beyond and out of their way to help me decide how to honor my wife. They rode me around cemeteries, looking at granite colors and designs. My wife and I had a special love for each other, and always talked about a double heart monument, and the folks at River Edge helped me design it. Greg walked me through the production plant and explained the process. And I’m so glad we added the heart-shaped vases and a porcelain picture (taken shortly before she died) which really makes the whole thing so meaningful.” “I am so proud to have found River Edge. They were nicer to me than I could have imagined. Everyone in my family and all our friends love Teresa’s monument; and so do I. I can’t thank River Edge enough for all they did.” This monument is located in New Hope Presbyterian Cemetery in Paoli, Georgia. The porcelain seen on the front was produced by Porcelains Unlimited. When Vincent Iocovozzi of Twin Oaks Memorials in Frankfort, NY needed a columbarium for a customer, he called Southern Mausoleums. “George is a man with a good attitude; honest to deal with, and right on top of things. Southern Mausoleums does very good work. I plan to do a lot more jobs with them. With the increase in cremations, it’s a good idea to have a company that is easy to work with who produces such good work.” Glass Art Imaging worked with Mudgett’s Monuments in Zanesville, OH to produce the very realistic replication of a motorcycle seen here. According to Glass Art’s Karl Hicks, “Mudgett’s customer loved this motorcycle so much they custom cut the black stone to the shape of the motorcycle. We were able to put the colored Glass Art motorcycle image onto it. The whole image of the bike is just like the person’s bike really was.” Central Granite Company fabricated this touching memorial for Rinker & Frye Memorials located in Mt. Jackson, VA. According to Mike Rinker, “Central Granite provided a perfectly cut and polished Jet Black monument; Jenson Etching Company completed the very detailed etchings.” The family called their child Our Princess, which gave them the idea for the Princess Castle shape for the monument. The monument is located in a church cemetery in New Market, Virginia called Woods Chapel . In February 2017, over 100 headstones were toppled and damaged by vandals at the Chesed Shel Emeth Society Cemetery This monument was fabricated by Eagle Granite Company for Brown Memorials located in Florence, SC. According to Bran Oswalt of Brown Memorials, “The angel was etched here at our studio by artist, Dan Garrison. The family requested a simple yet modern design featuring an angel. Like the majority of the work we produce, the shape and the angel are unique to the Ferrell’s memorial.” This beautiful tribute is located in Hillcrest Cemetery in Conway, SC. located in the St. Louis, Missouri suburb of University City. Many memorials will need to be repaired or replaced altogether. This monument, seen at left, is one that Phillip Weiss of Weiss Monument Works sent to Keystone Memorials, Inc. for repair, where Keystone utilized its CNC machine to rework the monument for replacement in the cemetery. “The back broke off when it was pushed over,” explained Weiss, “We have many here that are in worse shape than this. Keystone will be getting a lot of work in the next few weeks. I know I can depend on them to repair everything correctly.” This impressive, almost three-dimensional, realistic image of the United States American flag was produced by Glass Art Imaging for Henry & Henry Monuments located in Marion, KY. “We worked with Henry & Henry to create the Glass Art color American flag on Elberton gray stone,” states Glass Art’s Karl Hicks. “The stone is American and Henry & Henry and Glass Art Imaging are both American companies!” The addition of the U.S. flag image makes a truly patriotic statement. In July 2015, two portrait busts of mayors Keith Summey and John Bourne were unveiled in North Charleston, SC at the North Charleston Coliseum of Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center. The City Council honored Bourne and Summey with busts marking their combined 40 years in office. Keystone Memorials, Inc. fabricated this large memorial wall and pedestals for Memorial Design located in Pelion, SC. It is constructed in sections, including seven curved walls topped with a curved black cap. Ron Clamp of Memorial Design stated, “This ended up looking really great. It makes a really good impression on visitors to the City Complex. Keystone did a great job with it.” A wall behind the busts bears a new name for the grounds and facilities of the North Charleston Coliseum, Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center — the Bourne-Summey City Center Complex. The other side of the wall recognizes every council member who has served the city since its inception. Majestic Granite Company produced these seven distinctive pedestals for Capitol Monuments located in Jefferson City, MO. These pedestals are part of a Veterans’ Memorial located in the heart of Gerald City Park in Gerald, MO. Sponsored by the Gerald Lions Club, this memorial was dedicated on Veteran’s Day, with the Boy Scouts of Gerald Troop 448 opening the program with a flag raising ceremony. The monuments are erected to salute our men and women in uniform who have given us the freedoms that we have in this country. Gerald is a small town with a big heart, and is proud of its memorial honoring America’s warriors. According to Sharon Atteberry of Capitol Monuments, “Majestic has done several jobs for us and they are very reliable and do great work. This project turned out great, and everyone involved in the project was very pleased with how these pedestals look!” Eagle Granite Company produced this memorial that is prominently displayed in Stonewall Memory Gardens in Manassas, VA. The memorial features an image of Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson astride his horse. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (1824-63) was a war hero and one of the South’s most successful generals during the American Civil War. After his home state of Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Jackson joined the Confederate army and quickly forged his reputation for fearlessness and tenacity, serving under General Robert E. Lee (1807-70) for much of the Civil War. He was known for his tactical prowess and bravery, and he and his troops played key roles at the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg and Greenfield Quarles was a Confederate States Army and United States Army soldier, judge, fought in World War I and the Spanish-American War, and was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. Quarles was also one of the founders of the Sigma Nu fraternity. According to Jason Campbell of Campbell Monument Company located in Provencal, LA, this monument is a replacement of Quarles’ original headstone. Stated Campbell, “This monument is actually a duplicate of the other Sigma Nu founder, so getting this one made was quite a challenge. Besides matching the granite color, there was a lot of measuring and photos to get it to be an exact match, not to mention the difficulty of installing it. Keystone Memorials did a really great job working on this.” “Quarles was an interesting man, very accomplished, and was quite modest. The original headstone was a small, simple marker. The Grand Chapter of Sigma Nu commissioned this memorial to replace it and to honor Quarles for all his many contributions.” stated Campbell, “The original marker will be brought to our Lexington headquarters to be put on display. The new monument will have an official dedication onsite in October, with Quarles’ great-grandson in attendance. I appreciate all of Keystone’s attention to detail on this job, and we’re looking forward to showing it off at the dedication ceremony.” This monument is located in the Old Confederate Cemetery in West Helena, AR.the Battle of Chancellorsville. Established in 1951, Stonewall Memory Gardens is situated in the middle of Manassas National Battlefield Park, overlooking the grounds of the battlefield; portions of the cemetery were used in the opening of the Second Battle of Manassas (aka Second Battle of Bull Run) in 1862. It is very fitting that Jackson sits here mounted on his horse, awaiting that time when, in his last words, “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” Designed and fabricated by J & B Granite Company, this monument is a unique tribute to Darrin Stroud, an extraordinary young man whose love of life touched many around him. Despite setbacks in his earlier years, Darrin rose above his difficulties, and encouraged everyone he knew to realize their place in the world, and to know the love of Christ and His promise of hope. “Darrin touched a lot of people,” said his mother, Sherry Smith, “He was there for everybody, no matter who they were. He judged nobody; everyone was his friend; over 500 people came to pay their respects at his visitation. He owned his own trucking company, loved riding his Harley, and most of all, cherished being a Dad to his two children, Kelsey and Dylan Stroud. Losing my only child has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to bear, but I know his ministry will live on, and his life will be an example to all the people he loved.” The monument was a special design that reflects Darrin’s personality; Darrin’s daughter Kelsey came up with the idea for the design itself. The headstone creates a three-dimensional effect, and the porcelains on the back of the monument were selected by his children. Sherry added, “It was important to the kids to show the “cool Dad”, the “everyday Dad”, and the middle one is Darrin dressed for church, where he had taken up the ministry. His quote is something he said all the time...because we don’t know the plans God has for us...it is what it is.” Tammy Parham of J&B states, “When I heard Sherry’s story, I knew we had to do something special for her son; the way she talks about him, and how much he’d turned his life around and was so successful at it. I thought it would be great to do a truck that was unique and special.” “It means the world to me that Tammy put this much work into my son’s monument,” said Sherry. “It’s perfect.” The monument is located in Murrayville Congregational Holiness Church Cemetery in Murrayville, GA. Monument Builders of North America Monument Builders Show Indianapolis, IN (L-R): Ryan Albertson, Henry & Henry, Inc.; Gary Condon, Versailles, OH; Billy Fox, Henry & Henry Inc.; Mike & Shalona Wise, Versailles, OH (L-R): Antwan & Christine Gipson, Benton Harbor, MI; Leslie Turpin, Bicknell Supply Company; Eric Ziegert, Benton Harbor, MI; Michael Hughes, Bicknell Supply Company; Matt Matheney, Marton, IL; Mike Beri and Bruce Bicknell, Bicknell Supply Company (L-R): Mike Fernandez, Design Mart, LLC; Kevin Wakela, Jefferson Hills, PA; Tony Bekavac, Jefferson Hills, PA; Kelly Storm, Design Mart, LLC (L-R): Tom Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc; Tanner Lewis, Porcelains Unlimited, Inc; Amber & Garrett Case, Brookhaven, MS; Dody Campbell, Provencal, LA (L-R, Front): Brent Holt, Keystone Memorials, Inc; Ronnie, Mona, & Melissa Rodrique, Gonzales, LA; Steve Ryan, Peebles, OH, Laura Hernandez, Keystone Memorials, Inc. (L-R, Rear): Amy & Ross Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc; Reid & Lisa Mudgett, Zanesville, OH (L-R): Bob & Anita Nelson, St. Joseph, MO; Jerry & Trudy King, King’s Monument Company; Gary Condon, Versailles, OH; Giles Stark, Neenah, WI; Kurt Luckemeyer, Rich Ashbrenner, and Matthew King, King’s Monument Company; Jerry Landsverk, Neenah, WI; Marty King, King’s Monument Company (L-R): Wendy Burton, Sarasota, FL; Oliver Young, Sarasota, FL; Clay Creech, Sarasota, FL; Brad Myers, Elberton, GA; Tammy & Quinn Floyd, A.Q. Stone Design (L-R): Steve Skeba, Irishtown, New Brunswick CA; Mike Nelson, Irishtown, New Brunswick, CA; Clif Dye, Star Granite & Bronze (L-R): Donna & Steve Kays, Tiffin, OH; Jason Jankowski, Palfleet Equipment; Hunter Siltman, Richmond, MN; Scott Nagel, Richmond, MN (L-R): Anita Nelson, St. Joseph, MO; Leslie Wolsleben, Fremont, NE; Bob Nelson, St. Joseph, MO; Matt Worthington, Ft. Worth, TX; Elaine & Tom Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc; Linda Abramson, Keystone Memorials, Inc.; Chris & Alicia St. John, Jackson, MI; George Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc; Laura Hernandez, Keystone Memorials, Inc; Eric Zabel, Manitowoc, WI (L-R): Ronnie Brown & Brady Turner, Miles Supply, Inc; Sam Harris, Eastland, TX; Grant Hogarth, Sterling, CO; Mark Cowart, Greenwood, MS; Mark Crook & Evan Storrs, Miles Supply Inc. StoneExpo (L-R): Josh Bobo, Norcross, GA; Adriano Soso and Marco Meggiorin, Italdiamant USA, Inc. (L-R): Jeff Lackie, Annie Cline, and Shane Ward, Diamant Boart (L-R): Stacey Drake, Granite Sales & Supply Corp.; James Oglesby, Elberton, GA (L-R): Eric Chaloux, Miles Supply Company; Michele Bandinu, Santa Ynez, CA; Brian Melvin, Miles Supply Company (L-R): Melissa & Terry Black, Wilson Industrial Electric; Matt Wilson, Wilson Industrial Electric California Monument Association/Pacific Northwest Monument Builders Association Joint Annual Convention Vancouver, WA The California/Pacific Northwest Monument Builders Association convention features “Mystery Dinner Theater” each year, and this time around, EGA’s Matthew Pruitt rocked the Elvis look. What a Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love! (L-R): George Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc.; Vicki & Bruce Fuerstenburg, Vancouver, WA; Jennifer Bush, Yakima, WA; Mary & Joey Fuerstenberg, Vancouver, WA; Bob & Michelle Jordan, Missoula, MT; and Sheri & John Tresko, Spokane, WA elberton granite association Training Institute presents Keynote Speakers focus on Art, Design, & Marketing Las Vegas, NV Bobby Mattos, AICA, Bras & Mattos Monument Co. Bobby Mattos is a 5th generation Memorialist from Bras and Mattos Monument Company Est. 1897 in Hayward California. He was raised in the business but began working full time in the industry after earning his B.A. in History in 2003. Like many others in the monument industry, he sells, designs and does just about anything else needed at his shop on a daily basis. He has owned and operated his own stone carving gallery as well as instructed and taught creative stone carving techniques at workshops and conventions. Bobby continues to teach stone carving at The School of Hard Rocks with business partners Charlie Hunt FAICA (Hunt Memorials) of Nashville Tennessee and Scott Luken PITA (Luken Memorials) of Yankton South Dakota. Charlie Hunt, FAICA, Hunt Memorials, Inc. Charlie Hunt began working in the family business in 1982 after graduating from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee with a degree in History. Within a year, he was asked to do some sketches of monuments and quickly found his niche. This inspired him to return to school for art and drafting classes including traveling to Vermont to train with traditional stone craftsmen and learn the stonecutter methodology that has been in practice for over two centuries. Charlie is the first recipient of the Eugene H. Faehnle Award from The American Institute of Commemorative Arts (AICA), the highest place award of its kind in the monument industry for design. Other prestigious 1st Place Awards include MBNA’s Biondan Bronze-Bert Gast Memorial Award, The Harold J. Shaller, AICA Conceptual Design and Rendering Award, MBNA’s Design Contest People’s Choice Award and the MBNA Award for Outstanding Excellence in Monument Design. Scott Luken, PITA, Luken Memorials Scott Luken, a 3rd generation stone sculptor/memorialist was born and raised in Yankton, South Dakota. At a young age, he discovered a box of old chisels at the family business and started on the path to becoming a stone sculptor. While growing up, Scott took every opportunity to learn his craft from the “old timers” that carved at the various quarries he visited. Scott attended the Colorado Institute of Art for a commercial art degree. Once finished, he began designing and sculpting full time. His sculpture is graphic in nature and the granite dictates what it ultimately becomes. Scott also shares his passion instructing at seminars he holds. He has works throughout the Midwest in private collections and public installations such as his latest Installation in the Benson Sculpture Garden’s permanent collection in Loveland, Colorado. This course is designed for those who are new to the business who are looking for the best advice, tips, and tricks straight from the experts. It will give you all the information you need to get your business started in the right direction, and to help you increase your productivity and sales. Hundreds of successful memorialists have participated in the Retailers Course through EGA’s Training Institute. Join us for a 5-day class featuring tours of various facilities and quarries, classes on pricing and industry terminology, and much more! Cost is $250 per person. Limit two people per company. Participants must be sponsored by one of our members. Lunch provided throughout the course. Visit www.egaonline.com for more information, or contact Matthew at 706-283-2551 or mpruitt.ega@gmail.com Dennis Weldon Mann June 19, 1947 - February 21, 2017 Mr. Dennis Weldon Mann, 69, of Elberton, husband of 51 years to Nancy Libby Mann, finished his course in faith on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at his residence following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Mann was born in Elbert County on June 19, 1947, son of the late Charles Erskin Mann and Betty Todd Mann. A licensed electrician, Dennis, along with Terry Maxwell, was co-owner and operator of Elberton Industrial Electric. He was a member of Falling Creek Baptist Church and the Elberton Granite Association. Dennis and Nancy loved traveling, especially to Savannah, Georgia and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Nancy; daughter, Denise Lewis; grandsons: Brian McCannon, Kevin McCannon and his wife Carrie, and Josh McCannon; great-granddaughter, Rachel McCannon; brothers-in-law: Ted Libby and Phil Libby and his wife Jane, all of Elberton; aunt and uncle, Kathleen and Marshall Cordell of Hartwell; and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Charles Mann; and sister-in-law, Virginia Libby. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to T.J. & Friends, P.O. Box 6161, Elberton, GA 30635. Willie Micier Simmons, Sr. August 16, 1926 - March 21, 2017 Mr. Willie Micier Simmons, Sr., 90, of Elberton, husband of 66 years to Annie Lee Looney Simmons, finished his course in faith on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center Gentiva Hospice Unit, surrounded by his family. Mr. Simmons was born in Madison County, GA on August 16, 1926, son of the late Willie D. and Hassie Hammonds Simmons. He was the owner/operator of Supreme Granite Company, Sweet City Quarries, and Stash-A-Way Storage. Mr. Simmons served his community in many civic capacities including: founding member of Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, member of Elberton Kiwanis Club, member of Philomathea Masonic Lodge # 25 and the Shriners, past president of Elberton Granite Association, past president of Elberton Country Club, and past president of the Elberton Elks Lodge. Willie proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He was an avid golfer and people-person who never met a stranger. In addition to his wife, Annie Lee, he is survived by his children and their spouses: Donna and Tim Parker of Concord, NC, Phyllis and Rick Brady of Elberton, Willie M. “Bill”, Jr. and Lanie Simmons of Elberton, and Mike and Kim Simmons of Elberton; grandchildren: Brad Parker, Shawn Parker, Adam Brady, Amanda Brady, Josh Simmons, Crystal Dye, and Morgan Simmons; six great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sarah Brady; and siblings: Katherine Boswell Bryant, Myrtle Hall, Elizabeth Hutchison, Reese Simmons, Joe Simmons, Turnes Simmons, and Jimmie White. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to Shriners Children Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.