2010-03-02
Artisan Group™ Inducts Two New Board Members
AUSTIN – March 1, 2010– Artisan Group has inducted two new members onto its board of directors: Mitch Hires, president, Construction Resources in Atlanta, and Gus Blume, president, Blume’s Solid Surface Products in Pittsburgh. Hires and Blume are taking the slots vacated by Mike Job, president, Quality Surfaces, and Ed Wright, president, INcounters in Abilene, Texas, after serving their two-year-terms. Hires and Blume join Evan Kruger, president, Solid Tops in Maryland; Don Hinckley, president, NBC Solid Surfaces in Vermont; Mike Birdwell, VP Sales & Marketing, Fineline Pacific in Seattle and Jon Lancto, president, Surface Products in North Carolina to complete the board.
Blume started a laminate countertop fabrication shop in 1972 (Topcraft), sold that business in 1988 and started Blume's Solid Surface. Blume’s added their current stone operation in 2004 and since have been a full-service solid surface, granite and quartz fabrication shop located just outside Pittsburgh and servicing western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. Blume's is a wholesale only company selling to kitchen dealers, contractors, millwork houses and builders. Gus served on the ISSFA board of directors for six years.
Hires graduated from The University of Georgia in 1990 and started work at Atlanta Marble Mfg, a cultured marble facility. Sonny Hires (Brother and Partner) entered into the business in 1997 when they bought out their father’s partner and started Atlanta Kitchen (Granite, Quartz, and Solid Surface). Since this time they have started and operated Atlanta Glass and Mirror, International Bath Corporation, Florida Bath and Surfaces (Destin, Tallahassee), Innovative Surfaces (Birmingham), and National Stone Works (Fort Lauderdale). They provide countertop and specialty products to single family, commercial, multi-family, and big box stores in the southeast
Artisan Group™ is the premier network of stone fabricators in North America. Its extensive network allows the organization to offer the world’s best granite from the best sources around the globe. Utilizing the most technically advanced, automated shops in the industry, highly skilled craftsmen ensure that each and every installation meets exacting standards. In fact, all Artisan Group members have either achieved Marble Institute of America Accreditation, or have begun the process, making it the first group of granite fabricators in the world to be working towards this distinction. From classic to exotic, Artisan Group offers the most extensive array of stone and wood choices in the industry, and is dedicated to the highest level of customer service. For more information or to request a quote, visit www.artisan-counters.com.
