Annual ISFA Awards
Announced at the 2009 general session were the 2009 ISFA Award winners. Each year, five ISFA members are chosen by their peers to stand out as the very best, and this year’s winners certainly met the criteria.
The Associate of the Year Award is given to an associate member company that in the past year has best exemplified the role of servicing the needs of fabricator member companies, and who has best supported ISFA in all activities. This year’s winner is the Kohler Company, for its strong support of the decorative surfacing industry, as well as proactive efforts to promote the interests of ISFA fabricators.
The Innovator Award is for the fabricator member firm or individual who goes outside the box and creates a product or system that enhances the life of the solid surface fabricator. This year’s winners are Luke Moore and Tom Risinger of Fine Line Pacific. Not only did they create a state of the art fabrication facility that sets the standard for solid surface and hard surface fabrication, but they have been open and willing to share their knowledge and experience with other ISFA Fabricators, which gets at the real heart of the association.
The Envision Award is given to the manufacturer member that excels in creating something imaginative and special for the surfacing industry. The winner this year is Vetrazzo, for its development of an innovative and sustainable decorative surface that uses 100 percent recycled glass that comprises 85 percent of the final product by weight.
The Fabricator of the Year is awarded to an individual of a fabricator member company that in the past year has best exemplified the ISFA ideals of quality, innovation, character and exemplary service to ISFA and/or the decorative surfacing industry, with overall excellence. For leadership, commitment to quality and willingness to serve fellow fabricators, even in the face of exceptional personal and professional challenges, the winner is Vanessa Bates of Block Tops.
The top award is entry into The ISFA Hall of Fame, which is awarded to the individual, or individuals, who have in the course of their career made significant contributions to the decorative surfacing industry, and have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the ideals of ISFA. For their imagination, innovation, enthusiasm and undying devotion to enhancing the performance and aesthetic qualities of solid surface, the winners of the 2009 Hall of Fame Award are Gil Ross and Marvin Wernick of Avonite Surfaces. They took a limited solid surface color palette and introduced color and texture, forever changing the look and appeal of this versatile decorative surfacing material.