Episode 108: How Strategic Partnerships Fuel High-Profile Projects with Mark Johnson (Dallas | Fort Worth, TX)

Ted speaks with Mark Johnson, a fourth-generation stonemason and the owner of Architectural Stone. Mark shares his journey from working with his father’s masonry business to establishing his own company that specializes in high-end stonework. He discusses notable projects, including the restoration of the Parthenon and collaborations with famous clients like T. Boone Pickens and George W. Bush. Mark emphasizes the importance of quality, education, and innovation in the construction industry, as well as his excitement for future endeavors, including new product lines featuring petrified wood.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

  • [01:10] Introduction to Mark Johnson and His Journey
  • [02:10] The Evolution of Mark’s Career in Stonework
  • [04:15] High-Profile Projects: Rockefeller and Ralph Lauren
  • [08:36] Restoration of the Parthenon: A Unique Challenge
  • [16:15] Working with Notable Clients: T. Boone Pickens and George W. Bush
  • [27:25] Innovations in Stonework and Engineering
  • [40:50] The Importance of Quality and Education in Construction
  • [51:00] Future Endeavors and New Product Lines

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

Mark Johnson | Architectural Stone Company

  • “I’m a fourth-generation stonemason.”
  • “It was pretty much hush hush and we couldn’t really tell anyone. And they didn’t want anybody to think there were American people working on the Parthenon.”
  • “There was no such thing as a single shaft monolithic column that big in the world that we know.”