The Nominating Committee forStone Worldmagazine has named Marco Duran of Atlas Marble and Granite in Springfield, NJ, as Fabricator of the Year. The award was presented at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2015 in Las Vegas, NV. Criteria for the award is as follows:
  • cooperation in sharing technology with the industry
  • willingness to pioneer in the use of new technology
  • fostering educational programs for the training of stoneworkers in industry methods
  • promoting technological progress through association work

The nomination for Marco Duran reads as follows:

With over 20 years of experience, Marco Duran leads an expert staff of professionals utilizing state-of-the art equipment to bring the very best to his customers. Atlas Marble and Granite is a full-service custom stone fabricator specializing in kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity countertops, tub surrounds, and fireplace hearths and surrounds. During the last 14 years, his company has expanded from a 7,500-square-foot facility to over a 23,000-square-foot facility with an additional 15,000 square feet of outdoor space. Atlas Marble and Granite is a one-stop shopping depot for fabricated stone products and services, proudly serving New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Atlas Marble and Granite is also the exclusive fabricator for Ikea in the New Jersey/New York area.

Marco’s goals in the stone fabrication business are to produce the best quality product for high-end residential clientele and provide exceptional customer service. He knew that this could only be done if he embraced state-of-the-art technology. The line-up of his fully digital shop includes laser templating (LT-55 and Prodium), CNC Saw/Waterjet (Park Industries), Bridge Saw (GMM), CNC Router (Park Industries) and a Water Recycling system (Fabricators Choice). In addition, Atlas Marble and Granite utilizes Slabsmith and Moraware. 

Marco is an active member of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Stone Fabricator Alliance (SFA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Atlas Marble and Granite is also a Lead Safe Certified Firm.

Marco strives to share his knowledge of stone processing with other colleagues. For the last three years, Marco has participated on the Fabricator Forum discussion panels at both StonExpo and Coverings. In addition, he is an active member of the MIA New Jersey Chapter, has opened his facility for chapter meetings and will be speaking about the safe procedure of slab handling at an upcoming meeting.

Marco has hosted numerous tours of his facility and has shared his best practices with others looking at moving to the digital world of fabrication. From shop layout to fabricating processes, Marco is an open book. His philosophy is to share his knowledge and expertise with other fabricators for the advancement of the stone industry as a whole. He has also provided industry insights as it pertains to kitchen design trends for a variety of industry publications and has been featured in Stone Worldtwice. 

After a recent Fabricators Forum, Marco met a fabricator from California who wanted to grow his business. Since then, Marco has been mentoring Carlos Blanco. Blanco explains, “As a small fabricator, I wanted to take my business to the next level, but didn’t know how to do it. Marco has been instrumental in guiding me these past few years and has given me advice both from a fabricating perspective as well as just great business advice. Marco has been an inspiration to me and he has given me the tools to grow my business.”

Atlas Marble and Granite has imbedded the MIA code of ethics within their organization, which is focused on honesty, integrity, quality and professionalism.

Atlas Marble and Granite has been foremost in developing best practices when cutting the likes of Nano Glass by collaborating with Alpha Professional Tools and Nano Glass by CCS Stone of New Jersey to develop better more efficient saw blades. Marco has also hosted several fabrication learning sessions on fabricating porcelain slabs for interior residential applications — joining Artistic Marble and their partners from Italy. 

Marco has a strong foundation and belief of investing in the stoneworking community. As a result, he has been a very active member of a number of associations and events to help spread the wealth of knowledge and expertise among/between fabricators.  

Marco is one of the most responsive, innovative and involved members within the stone industry. His commitment to innovation, investing in association participation and willingness to share best practices in a variety of forums all contribute to Marco being the ideal recipient of the 2014 Stone World“Fabricator of the Year Award.”

The current roster of winners of the Stone WorldFabricator of the Year Award is as follows:

2014 — Marco Duran, Atlas Marble and Granite

2013 —  Jon Lancto, Surface Products

2012 — Mike Yates, Counter Solutions

2011 — Stuart Young, The Granite Shop

2010 — Matt Lansing, Stone Innovations

2009 — Scott McGourley, Kasco Stone

2008 — Paul Menninger, Capitol Granite & Marble

2007 — Ron Hannah, Cadenza Granite & Marble

2006 — Dick Laliberte, Ripano Stoneworks

2005 — G.K. Naquin, Stone Interiors

2004 — Tim and Scott Buechel, Buechel Stone Corp.

2003 — Kip Cameron, Granite-Tops

2002 — George Fox, Luck Stone Corp.

2001 — Fred Becker, Becker & Becker Stone Co.

2000 — Connie and Brenda Edwards, TexaStone Quarries

1999 — Walter Dusenbery, Johnson-Atelier School, Sculpture

1998 — Harold Stobbe, Owen Sound Ledgerock

1996 — Willard Vetter, Vetter Stone Co.

1995 — Chuck Monson, Dakota Granite Co.

1994 — Linus Dingman, Cold Spring Granite Co.

1993 — David Teitelbaum, Cathedral Stoneworks

1991 — Wilbur Bybee, Bybee Stone Co.

1989 — Tony Ramos, New England Stone Industries

1988 — Jim Stengel, Dakota Granite Co.