MIA+BSI Person of the Year: Kathy Spanier

OBERLIN, Ohio / CHESTERTOWN, N.Y. – Kathy Spanier is the 2016 MIA+BSI Person of the Year.

Click photo to enlargeSpanier, director of marketing for Coldspring in Cold Spring, Minn., received the award at the MIA+BSI Awards Luncheon at TISE in January.

With more than 35 years of marketing experience, Spanier spent the past decade advocating for advancing leadership and sustainability within the natural-stone industry. She serves as chair of the Natural Stone Council’s Committee on Sustainability and has been a driving force in having NSC 373 recognized by the Living Building Challenge, the U.S. Green Building Council, and other green-building groups.

“Kathy has been an instrumental leader in helping the entire natural-stone industry improve its environmental performance through countless hours of advocacy, education, standards review, and general leadership,” said Jason F. McLennan, founder of the International Living Future Institute.

“The natural stone industry is a male-dominated industry,” said M.O. “Mo” Bohrer, former chair of the Natural Stone Council. “Kathy has overcome numerous obstacles as she has worked tirelessly in promoting sustainability. As a result, she is now recognized throughout the industry as the ‘go-to person’ regarding sustainability and NSC 373.”

Spanier also serves on the steering committee for MIA+BSI’s Women in Stone initiative, working to launch the Women in Stone Mentorship Program, which pairs industry veterans with newcomers to provide an important opportunity to build relationships and learn about the industry.

She has been a member of the BSI Board of Directors since 2013, and currently serves on the joint MIA+BSI Board.

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