The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has announced that John Kunz of Kepco+ in Salt Lake City, Utah is the 2012 recipient of the MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award.
Kunz, who has been in the stone business for 34 years, began working as an apprentice stone mason for a residential contractor doing interior walls, floors, and countertops, exterior walls and planters. After four years in the business, he became a full-fledged journeyman. Three years later, he earned an associates degree in construction engineering from Dean Technical Institute in Pennsylvania. In 1985, Kunz began working on his first large commercial stone project as a craftsman. Within two weeks, he was promoted to shop foreman and responsible for plant operations where he oversaw the project’s panel production for 18 months.
Kunz eventually took his talents to New England and then to San Diego, where he met Bruce Knaphus, president of Salt Lake City-based KEPCO+. In 1992, Kunz began working for KEPCO+ as a seasoned journeyman setter and crew trainer. Within a few months he was elevated to foreman, and in 1998 he was promoted to General Superintendent. In 2004, he was promoted to his current role of Field Operations Manager.
Kunz always remembers the helping hands he received while growing up in the business and readily shares his knowledge with younger craftsmen. This is a major factor in his selection as Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year.
Kunz added, “I like to give back to the guys today, work with them, give them a chance to grow and give them the opportunity to learn in the field of stone masonry.”
