Artisan Group has inducted two new board members: Kellie Akins, Sales & Marketing Manager of Innovative Surfaces in Minneapolis, MN, and Joe Hoffman, Jr., owner of Hoffman Fixtures Company in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK.   
         
Akins and Hoffman are taking the slots vacated by charter members Evan Kruger, owner of Solidtops in Eason, MD, and Jon Lancto, owner of Surface Products in Cornelius, NC, after serving their two-year-terms. Akins and Hoffman join Brad Pearce, owner of Front Range Stone in Denver, CO, Layton day, owner of Bangor Wholesale Laminates in Bangor, ME. Mitch Hires, president, Construction Resources in Atlanta and Gus Blume, president, Blume’s  Solid Surface Products in Pittsburgh as well as Artisan Group executive director Chad Seiders to complete the board.

Kellie Akins, Sales/Marketing Manager, Innovative Surfaces, Inc. Hastings, MN

After foray’s in the legal field followed by International Steel Trading (import and domestic sales) with Cargill, Kellie joined her father-in-law, Bruce, and husband, Todd, at Innovative Surfaces in March of 2000. 
In her nearly twelve years with the company, she has worked in various areas of the business ranging from residential sales, vendor relationship management and product sourcing, to national big box account management, business development, marketing, and oversight of Innovative’s residential sales and estimating staff. Innovative maintains a wholesale focus, servicing the residential kitchen and bath/new construction/remodel/custom cabinet/countertop market segments in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, as well as, a broader commercial reach through their commercial contractor and millwork customers.

Joe Hoffman Jr., Owner of Hoffman Fixtures Company, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK

Joe Hoffman Jr. graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2001 and started work at HFC. At that time, the company fabricated stone, solid surface, and laminate products. 
In 2008, HFC merged with Aztec Kitchen and Bath, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, adding cultured marble to its product offering. Then in 2010, HFC purchased Phoenix Fabrication, a countertop fabrication company in Oklahoma City to extend its customer base.

Today, HFC provides kitchen and bathroom specialty products to single family, commercial, multi-family, and big box stores throughout Oklahoma.

Artisan Group
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.