Although it is only one year old, Palomar Stoneworks Inc. already is a successful company.
Based in Murrieta, the company offers marble, granite and solid surface slab countertop fabrication and installation. Palomar Stoneworks averages three installations per day for residential and commercial
customers. The company's goal is to do five installations per day this year, and based on its first year in production, attaining that objective won't be difficult.
The Carlsbad Business Journal interviewed Ed Vasko, CEO and CFO of Palomar Stoneworks, about the company and the factors that have led to its early success.
Carlsbad Business Journal: What is your professional background?
Vasko: I have spent more than 20 years in manufacturing, production and logistics, with a special focus on high-efficiency and productivity. I have a master's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and I have spent a great deal of my career in Japan and studying Japanese manufacturing efficiency methods.
CBJ: What is the company's background and history?
Vasko: Palomar Stoneworks was started in late 2006 based on the simple belief that there is room in the construction industry for a company that can get the basics right; i.e., be on-time for your customers, deliver quality, communicate well and respect your customers and their homes.
CBJ: What is the company's mission and philosophy?
Vasko: We want to deliver a truly enjoyable experience for our customers by fabricating and installing beautiful stone in the heart of their homes, kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces and barbeques. We do this by applying the company's five key management philosophies, which include:
1. Be a continuous improvement company, work everyday to find ways to get better at all of the things we do.
2. Respect our customers, their homes and their time. Our customers invite and allow us to work in their homes and we take that very seriously. We want them to enjoy the process of granite, marble and quartz installation.
3. Hire and train great employees who can be self-managed. People can do amazing, high-quality work when trained and trusted to take charge.
4. Apply risk management techniques, identify and plan for or resolve obstacles in advance.
5. Effective sales and marketing must get as much attention as production. Too often, companies in the trades neglect business development, and that's not good.
When these five philosophies are put together, you can do some powerful business. People want a great place to work, and when you execute these philosophies, employees and customers get really jazzed, which is a good recipe for business development.
CBJ: What is unique about Palomar Stoneworks?
Vasko: Our hiring process is very vigorous and we look for skilled craftsman who want to work for a solid company for a long time. So we offer vacation pay and paid holidays, which is somewhat unique in our part of the industry. Our goal next year is to also offer health care and college tuition assistance. Our 5,000 square-foot facility, with a yard for staging trucks and installations, is centrally located, giving us easy access to our primary markets of San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.
CBJ: What sets Palomar Stoneworks apart from other companies that sell and install slab countertops?
Vasko: Two things really set us apart. One, we do not subcontract any work. All of our fabrication and installation is done by our employees, which are the best in the business, so we get quality work. Two, we will be doing business for a long, long time. We stand behind our work and we are here for the long haul.
CBJ: What is your greatest accomplishment in business?
Vasko: When we decided to start this business, we knew we were doing it during a year that was especially tough with the downturn of the housing market. As a team, we decided to move forward anyway, with the thinking that to be successful now, we would have to learn to be efficient and very good at what we do. With that accomplished, we are well positioned for 2008.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of Palomar Stoneworks?
Vasko: During the month of December, we installed an additional edge profiling machine and gantry saw that will make us more efficient and really boost our capacity. This is in preparation for a very good 2008. This year, we will do our first complete new home development, continue in the commercial industry and really grow our home installations.
For more information, call Palomar Stoneworks at (951) 894-7135 or visit www.palomarstoneworks.com.
Based in Murrieta, the company offers marble, granite and solid surface slab countertop fabrication and installation. Palomar Stoneworks averages three installations per day for residential and commercial
customers. The company's goal is to do five installations per day this year, and based on its first year in production, attaining that objective won't be difficult.
The Carlsbad Business Journal interviewed Ed Vasko, CEO and CFO of Palomar Stoneworks, about the company and the factors that have led to its early success.
Carlsbad Business Journal: What is your professional background?
Vasko: I have spent more than 20 years in manufacturing, production and logistics, with a special focus on high-efficiency and productivity. I have a master's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and I have spent a great deal of my career in Japan and studying Japanese manufacturing efficiency methods.
CBJ: What is the company's background and history?
Vasko: Palomar Stoneworks was started in late 2006 based on the simple belief that there is room in the construction industry for a company that can get the basics right; i.e., be on-time for your customers, deliver quality, communicate well and respect your customers and their homes.
CBJ: What is the company's mission and philosophy?
Vasko: We want to deliver a truly enjoyable experience for our customers by fabricating and installing beautiful stone in the heart of their homes, kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces and barbeques. We do this by applying the company's five key management philosophies, which include:
1. Be a continuous improvement company, work everyday to find ways to get better at all of the things we do.
2. Respect our customers, their homes and their time. Our customers invite and allow us to work in their homes and we take that very seriously. We want them to enjoy the process of granite, marble and quartz installation.
3. Hire and train great employees who can be self-managed. People can do amazing, high-quality work when trained and trusted to take charge.
4. Apply risk management techniques, identify and plan for or resolve obstacles in advance.
5. Effective sales and marketing must get as much attention as production. Too often, companies in the trades neglect business development, and that's not good.
When these five philosophies are put together, you can do some powerful business. People want a great place to work, and when you execute these philosophies, employees and customers get really jazzed, which is a good recipe for business development.
CBJ: What is unique about Palomar Stoneworks?
Vasko: Our hiring process is very vigorous and we look for skilled craftsman who want to work for a solid company for a long time. So we offer vacation pay and paid holidays, which is somewhat unique in our part of the industry. Our goal next year is to also offer health care and college tuition assistance. Our 5,000 square-foot facility, with a yard for staging trucks and installations, is centrally located, giving us easy access to our primary markets of San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.
CBJ: What sets Palomar Stoneworks apart from other companies that sell and install slab countertops?
Vasko: Two things really set us apart. One, we do not subcontract any work. All of our fabrication and installation is done by our employees, which are the best in the business, so we get quality work. Two, we will be doing business for a long, long time. We stand behind our work and we are here for the long haul.
CBJ: What is your greatest accomplishment in business?
Vasko: When we decided to start this business, we knew we were doing it during a year that was especially tough with the downturn of the housing market. As a team, we decided to move forward anyway, with the thinking that to be successful now, we would have to learn to be efficient and very good at what we do. With that accomplished, we are well positioned for 2008.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of Palomar Stoneworks?
Vasko: During the month of December, we installed an additional edge profiling machine and gantry saw that will make us more efficient and really boost our capacity. This is in preparation for a very good 2008. This year, we will do our first complete new home development, continue in the commercial industry and really grow our home installations.
For more information, call Palomar Stoneworks at (951) 894-7135 or visit www.palomarstoneworks.com.