Vermont
Business Owner Captures “Fabricator of the Year” Award
 ISSFA
Award Honors Countertop Industry Pioneer Don Hinckley
SPRINGFIELD, VT – March 21, 2008 – Donald
Hinckley has been named “2008 Fabricator of the Year” by the
International Solid Surface Fabricators’ Association (ISSFA).
Hinckley, founder and owner of NBC Solid Surfaces in Springfield,
Vermont, was presented the award at the conclusion of the recent
2008 Surface Fabrication & Design
Expo, held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A fabrication industry pioneer who has been instrumental in helping
to shape and guide the industry as a whole, Hinckley is highly
regarded for his numerous contributions and unwavering dedication
to his profession. He began his stone and solid surface countertop
business in the early 1990s, working out of his garage in southern
Vermont. Today, he has grown NBC Solid Surfaces to become one
of the most successful fabricating firms in the country. At present,
he operates out of a 50,000 square-foot facility and employs
75 stone and solid surface artisans, craftsmen and support personnel.
Upon receiving the award, Hinckley commented, “It’s truly an
honor to be recognized by my peers and fellow fabricators. I
love this industry and try to show my appreciation for it by
giving back in any way I can.”
Founded in February of 1997, the ISSFA is a not-for-profit trade
association established to further the personal and professional
interests of solid surface and quartz fabricators. The association
is all-inclusive, industry wide, and open to all who sell, fabricate,
manufacture, distribute and supply tools, materials, support,
and services to the solid surface industry. The “Fabricator of
the Year” is awarded to a person within an ISSFA member company
who, in the past year, has best exemplified the organization’s
ideals of quality, innovation, character, service to ISSFA and/or
the solid surface industry, with overall excellence.
At the awards ceremony, Hinckley was cited for his tireless support
of the ISSFA, particularly its “mentor/mentee” program, in which
veteran fabricators help to guide and develop the professional
careers of newer fabricators working in the industry. Mike Langenderfer,
a Toledo, Ohio-based fabricator mentored by Hinckley, commented,
“We are truly motivated by just knowing Don and all the other
legends of ISSFA. He has been generous and supportive beyond
anyone’s expectation. It was a privilege to nominate him as Fabricator
of the Year.”
ISSFA Executive Director Robert Oxley was equally praiseworthy
of Hinckley. “Don is a very special member of ISSFA,” Oxley noted.
“He is one of the few true leaders in the industry, a significant
role model. He’s done so much for this organization that his
peers elected him to the board of directors and eventually president
– where he kept giving and doing more.”
______________________________________________________________________
Independent Granite Fabricators Launch Granite Brand with
Lifetime Warranty
SPRINGFIELD, VT – Customers seeking granite countertops
want a material that is not only beautiful and functional, but
also stands the test of time. With that philosophy in mind, a new
organization has created its own brand that offers the granite
industry’s first lifetime warranty.
The Artisan Group™, an independent organization of the country’s
premier granite fabricators, has launched Artisan Stone Collection™,
which carries the industry’s first comprehensive lifetime warranty.
The Artisan Stone Collection is offered exclusively by Artisan
Group and is now available in the United States and Canada.
Every Artisan countertop is sealed with Firstline™ Sealer which
is exclusive to the Artisan Group and provides the very best stain
protection technology.
“We are confident that homeowners will embrace our lifetime warranty
and will appreciate the superior fabrication and service Artisan
Group provides,” said Sid Mackay, Artisan Group board member. “This
new warranty offers customers perpetual peace of mind about a major
purchase that’s generally a focal point inside their home.”
Artisan Group members represent a select group of national fabricators
who share a singular vision: to set a new standard for quality
and craftsmanship in the granite countertop industry. “We combine
decades of experience with the world’s best granite, the latest
technologies and unsurpassed customer service to ensure that our
customers have confidence in their granite countertops,” said Don
Hinckley, Artisan Group board member.
Artisan Group membership is selective and all members must meet
specific criteria, including:
- Have solid, verifiable, industry experience and expertise
- Apply for and become accredited by the Marble Institute of
America, the industry’s preeminent trade organization
- Have a solid
reputation for quality and service in their market area
- Exhibit
and follow sound and ethical business practices
- Utilize the latest
technologies for fabrication and project scheduling
- Share a commitment to improve the granite countertop industry
Artisan Group has partnered with one of the country’s largest
granite importers to ensure a long-term, consistent supply of high-quality
granite from the world's best quarries. The group’s powerful purchasing
block allows them to offer the widest variety of colors from the
basics to the most stunning exotic granites, all at affordable
prices. Artisan Group’s inspectors are located around the globe
to insure quality by inspecting slabs before they leave the quarry.
Customers can view the full Artisan Stone color palette and find
their local Artisan Fabricator at www.artisanstonecollection.com.
They can also visit their local Artisan fabricator to view the
Artisan Stone Collection in person.
NBC Solid Surfaces Earns
First Marble Institute Accreditation
SPRINGFIELD, VT —The Marble Institute of America announced that
NBC Solid Surfaces has completed an exhaustive process to become
the first Accredited Member of the prestigious industry association.
After months of review and a lengthy exam, the Springfield, Vermont,
countertop manufacturer was advised that the company met every
requirement for accreditation.
“NBC Solid Surfaces is now able to proudly display the accreditation
logo, which symbolizes that they are among the finest in the natural
stone industry with respect to craftsmanship, safety, and business
practices,” said Garen Distelhorst, Accreditation Manager for the
MIA.
For over 60 years, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has served
as the authoritative source of information on standards of natural
stone workmanship, practice and the suitable application of natural
stone products. In 2004, they initiated the development of an accreditation
program to ensure excellence in the industry and established strict
guidelines for accreditation to recognize companies that meet or
exceed those standards.
“The MIA is proud to see our three plus years of hard work creating
the accreditation finally resulting in our first fully Accredited
Member,” said Distelhorst. “Don Hinckley of NBC Solid Surfaces
was the first person to request an accreditation application, the
first to take and pass the rigorous, 200-question exam, and the
first to schedule and pass the site inspection.”
Hinckley says he aggressively pursued the accreditation to assure
customers that his company lives by the highest standards. The
MIA accreditation examines the applicant’s performance on many
levels, including business and trade practices, financial, human
resources, employee safety, communication, integrity, and manufacturing
practices. The arduous task of earning this recognition required
Hinckley and key members of NBC’s management staff to pass an exam
that tested their knowledge of materials, fabrication, product
assessment and care, job site safety, installation, and legal and
contractual issues.
“The test is like the bar exam of the natural stone industry.
You have to be prepared to answer questions on even the most remote
areas of working with natural stone,” says Hinckley.
Founded in 1994, NBC Solid Surfaces crafts customer countertops
from a wide variety of natural stone, including, granite, marble,
soapstone and such man-made materials as Corian® and Quartz surfaces.
With 80 employees, the company has consistently expanded and added
new products. More than size, Hinckley adds, “our focus is to have
the highest quality in the industry, not only in the products we
offer but also the experience, we have built one of the finest
customer care teams in the industry.”
“We succeeded by finding a way to deliver more than what our customers
expect, in terms of quality, beauty, installation, and personal
service. We look for solutions and our customers have come to rely
on us for that,” says Hinckley, who was honored with the 2003 Award
of Excellence from the International Solid Surface Fabricators
Association. The recognition came from his industry peers who chose
him as best exemplifying outstanding character and overall innovation
and excellence.
“I am delighted that NBC is once again on the cutting edge. By
being the first to reach this level in the process, NBC Solid Surfaces
continues to affirm its leadership in this industry.” Hinckley
said.
Hinckley hopes that other fabricators will follow NBC’s lead.
Everyone benefits, he believes, by the commitment to maintaining
high standards. “Yes, it’s a demanding process to gain the accreditation,
but it’s an excellent way to show your customers that you will
go to any lengths to assure quality and satisfaction.”
NBC Solid
Surfaces, Inc.
200 Clinton Street • Springfield, Vermont 05156
Phone 802-885-8677 • Fax 802-885-8678
Email: info@nbcsolidsurfaces.com |
