Find a Contractor Buyer's Guide
MCAA Logo
Member Login JOIN
NEWS
Join Us For The 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting Sep 7-11 ↗

Severson Named Marble Institute’s ‘Craftsman of the Year’

Words: Helen Bouchard
/Public/News/20091220080000-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Randy Severson has been chosen as the very first MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year.">
Randy Severson has been chosen as the very first MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year.
Randy Severson, general superintendent of Carrara Marble Company of City of Industry in California, has been chosen as the very first MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year; a competition introduced by the Marble Institute of America (MIA) in 2009.

A six member panel of stone industry veterans selected Severson from a pool of nominees in a competition sponsored by two leading industry suppliers, Laticrete and Campolonghi Italia. The award, a beautifully crafted and unique plaque, was presented at the MIA Annual Awards Luncheon at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas, October 23, 2009.

Severson joined Carrara Marble Company nearly three decades ago as a driver but quickly advanced to serving as an apprentice. Three years after that became a journeyman and he eventually became foreman and primary supervisor of the California Plaza project, a 55-story building in downtown Los Angeles. Six years later he was unanimously chosen to succeed Carrara’s retiring general superintendent, and he has now been involved in major projects in California, Nevada and across the country.

“Randy Severson epitomizes everything you could ask for in an employee and particularly in the stone business,” said Jim Hogan, senior vice president of Carrara Marble Company, who nominated Severson and for whom the award winner works directly.

Severson admits he got hooked on the stone business early in his career. “What I liked about it is that at the end of the day, you can feel like you’ve put in a hard day’s work and then you can step back and see what you’ve actually created,” he said.

Severson is also passionate about helping young people in the industry so they have the knowledge and expertise to become the next generation of top craftsmen. “It’s very important that my journeymen, foremen, and I take time to teach the young guys the proper way to install material,” he commented.

A devoted baseball fan, along with his wife, Debbie and three children, Severson beams as he describes how he correlates his job with the game of baseball. “I have coached my sons in baseball since they were Peewee. I put together my team here at Carrara Marble just like it. I have some utility guys. I have some guys who have some pop. I have some guys who have finesse. All of those guys are gamers, which is why when I get into a meeting that has an intense schedule, at no time do I think we can’t make it happen because I’ve got the best team behind me. I have a world championship team.”

The Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award will be an annual MIA competition to honor the men and women who truly reflect the best of the natural stone industry and bring stone to life through love of the material, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
 0
Using Respirators for Silica Exposure
July 2025

Some in the masonry industry have expressed interest in respirator use as protection from harmful exposure to silica. This topic is of paramount importance due to its impact on our workers and the serious health effects of silica exposure. For those new t

Zach Everett
Read More
From Bikes to Buildings: The Importance of Embracing Rainscreen Wall Designs and the New Building Codes.
July 2025

Have you ever been asked to do a project over the course of your lifetime? For example, when my kids were little, my wife asked me to assemble their bicycles. So, I opened the box, dumped out the contents, and cast aside whatever I thought was unnecessary

Keith Lolley
MAP Partner
Read More
Laying the Foundation for Growth: Concrete Masonry Checkoff Unveils Five-Year Vision for Industry
July 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) put the finishing touches on an ambitious five-year vision for the industry, targeting a 20% increase in market share, driven by increased demand for concrete masonry products. “This is about building exquisite, enduri

Industry News
Read More
Five of the Seven Chimneys Have Been Saved: Project Chimney Update
July 2025

In the wake of the devastating January wildfires that swept through Los Angeles's Pacific Palisades, a remarkable preservation effort is underway, spearheaded by Project Chimney, an initiative led by Evan Hall, founding director of the non-profit House Mu

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More