Person of the Year

About the Person Of The Year Award

The Person of the Year award is presented annually to the one person who provided extensive support to the association’s executive staff during the year. This award is a tradition that began with the Building Stone Institute and has been continued for our new joined organization. The winner is selected by the Natural Stone Institute's CEO and Executive Vice President.

Current Recipient

Evan Cohen, Quality Marble & Granite

Evan Cohen, President of Quality Marble & Granite and the 2025 President of the Natural Stone Institute (NSI), has been honored as the NSI’s 2025 Person of the Year.

This is an acknowledgment of his exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering support during a year marked by significant organizational milestones and industry challenges. Throughout his presidency, Evan remained consistently accessible to the CEO, executive team, staff, and board members. This availability became one of the defining strengths of his leadership.

NSI CEO Jim Hieb emphasized that Evan’s involvement went far beyond traditional presidential duties, shaping several of the association’s most important initiatives of the year. Major components of Evan’s leadership impact included:

• NSI’s strategic plan: Under his direction, the plan was updated and refined to make an even bigger impact on our industry, by raising the profile of natural stone, and celebrating our people.

• Key performance tracking: Evan contributed directly to the development of new organizational KPIs—clear, measurable indicators that will enhance accountability, strengthen performance tracking, and support long-term organizational health.

• Silica-related topics: Evan also played a critical advisory role as NSI addressed silica-related topics. His steady, well-informed guidance helped the organization navigate complex legal terrain while reinforcing its commitment to safety and compliance.

• Tariff policy: He advocated for a new board policy calling for “fair, open, and free trade for the natural stone industry.”

• Committee structure: His governance contributions extended to helping design a new committee structure, built to enhance member engagement and streamline operational workflows.

• New NSI brand identity: Evan offered meaningful support in the creation of NSI’s new brand identity, helping ensure the refreshed brand captured both the association’s rich history and its forward-looking mission.

Drawing from insights gained through his Vistage experiences, he shared leadership approaches that supported board alignment, strengthened executive decision-making, and improved communication across the organization.

His leadership has positioned the NSI for continued growth, relevance, and industry excellence.