Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Regis Studeny named 2015 Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year

Words: Terri BernerRegis Studeny, project manager at Rugo Stone in Lorton, VA, has been named 2015 Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year. The award was presented to Studeny at TISE 2016 in Las Vegas, NV.

Studeny began his career with apprenticeships with Georgia Marble and Atlas Tile and Marble, where some of his first projects were on the Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art. He joined Rugo Stone in 1993 after nearly two decades in the stone industry. In addition to playing a critical role in six MIA Pinnacle Award-winning projects, Studeny’s work has been honored with awards from organizations such as the International Masonry Institute, the Washington Building Congress, the Baltimore Building Congress, and the American Institute of Architects. In 2011, Studeny was elected into the Washington Building Congress Hall of Fame.

In a letter nominating Studeny for this award, Brett Rugo, President of Rugo Stone, commented: “Regis is a true marble craftsman. His stone setting skill is excellent, but what separates Regis from so many other foremen is his in-depth knowledge of each job’s stone types and their limits, and his ability to provide a constant, steady onsite leadership presence. In a day when most people are satisfied with mediocracy, Regis has stood out as a true craftsman, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving than this man for this award.”

When accepting the award, Studeny was quick to thank his coworkers at Rugo Stone, saying: “From really coming from nothing to where I am today–it feels good. Knowing I have done some good things, it makes a guy feel proud that you get acknowledged. Even though my name is the only one on this plaque, I couldn’t have done this alone.”

For more information on the MIA+BSI awards program, please visit www.marble-institute.com/awards.
 0
PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
August 2026

In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
Why "The Software Can't Track That" Is Finally Going Away
August 2026

For as long as specialty contractors have used field software, most of them have kept a workaround somewhere: a spreadsheet on a foreman's laptop, a whiteboard in the trailer, or a text thread where crew leads send block counts at the end of the day becau

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin

Cass Stern
American Treasure
Brick Clay Brick
Read More