Local Artist Collaborates with CEO on Company Journey Mural

When Delgado Stone CEO Mike Wolfe envisioned the company's new conference room, one of the priorities was incorporating purpose into the details, much the same as in the team's daily work. "Everything has a purpose," Mike often says, "we don't do things for the sake of doing them". Another major component of this design was making sure it tied featured the of the company and its focus on sustainability. In a space meant for gathering for important conversations and hosting visitors, Mike's vision was a space that reflects the company's journey, and most of all, its people. "It's about more than what we do, or our products; it's about who we are," he said. 

A mural dedicated to the company's journey takes center stage in the new conference room.

A meeting with a local Starbucks barista led to a perfect opportunity to personalize the conference room and bring the concept to life with a mural. Local Connecticut artist Michaela Penna, a part-time barista who also works at her family's chiropractic business, is always looking for ways to incorporate art into her day-to-day world. At Starbucks,  Michaela got the opportunity to share her whimsical side designing coffee-themed signs for the store, which sparked a conversation with Mike during a coffee run. Michaela, who describes herself as a self-taught artist, is passionate about painting, figurative art, and illustration. She was intrigued by the idea of art on location and agreed to collaborate on a mural to represent Delgado Stone's evolution.

After working through different concepts for the mural Michaela and Mike settled on key components for the final design. A few key points that were included were a vineyard project on Long Island featured on the company's catalog cover, the company logo, a natural stone version of the yellow brick road from "The Wizard of Oz"  to represent the journey, and the company's core values, pictured prominently in the center of the gate. After brainstorming, Michaela presented a mock-up on her iPad, and once approved, she said it took her around 80 hours over the course of 10 days to complete. "I stayed overnight and painted sometimes," Michaela said, sharing that this was her first time painting a landscape, and the gate in particular took her some time and extra attention. "I had such a great time," she said. "It really challenged me, but it was a good experience because it pushed me. I loved the core values and positivity; it was nice to work with the company." 

Whimsical artwork by Michaela welcomes Federal Road Starbucks customers.

The final product was revealed at a company gathering last month, where the conference room was dedicated to owner & founder Brendon Southard's mom, Diana Landau McDowell, who has been instrumental in the company's evolution and success, well beyond her business expertise. "She's always around to support with products, getting information, and sending inspirational messages to the team," Mike said. In addition to the dedication, the new conference room incorporates the theme of sustainability, that goes beyond natural stone products. The room features Delgado Stone's Thinstone collections on the walls and a table made of reclaimed wood by Urban Wood Goods. All of these things connect to the company's mission to put people first and foremost, including teammates, customers, authorized dealers, masons, and the natural stone community. 

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