Michael Twiss, President/CEO

Founder, Michael Twiss currently serves as President/CEO of both Columbia Stone, Inc. and Natural Stone Designs, Inc. Michael oversees the day to day management and future planning of both companies. With over 33 years in the construction industry and 27 of those in the stone industry, he has utilized his drive and dedication into building two successful construction companies.

In addition to his corporate duties,  Michael serves on the Executive Board of the Marble Institute of America as Treasurer in 2009 and will continue thru 2013. 

Micahel holds a Bachelors Degree in Construction Management from Oregon State University and is a licensed Civil Engineer in California and Washington.

When he is not flying around the globe to go to range reviews, jobsite visits and meeting with new customers, he enjoys family activities and his passion for golf.

Linda Twiss, Secretary/Treasurer

Co-founder, Linda Twiss currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer for Columbia Stone, Inc. and Natural Stone Designs, Inc.  Wife of President/CEO Michael Twiss, Linda has been there from the beginning with her steadfast support.  Linda serves as the Human Resources Manager for both companies.  She also takes care of all banking aspects for Columbia Stone, Inc. and Natural Stone Designs and Accounts Receivable for Natural Stone Designs.

Linda enjoys traveling, swimming, reading and spending time with her husband and two children.

 

Bernie Bishoff, Vice President

In 2000, Bernie joined Columbia Stone, Inc. as a Project Manager. For six years he oversaw projects such as the Seattle Justice Center and Cerritos Towne Center. His diligent efforts and dedication proved to pay off when, in 2005, he accepted the position of Vice President. Bernie’s main responsibilities include overseeing the entire Operations Department, including 8 employees, while providing backup for President/CEO Mike Twiss.

His open and mentoring mentality coincide with his favorite part of his job, coaching. He is the one that people go to when they need advise or direction.  His words are often a comfort to people and have helped to create a solid, healthy work environment for everyone that works at Columbia Stone.

According to Bernie, what he finds so profound about Columbia Stone is, “the integrity that the company holds and the drive to get the job done.” No doubt that a substantial amount of that has come from his tireless efforts to make Columbia Stone a better company.

Phil Wilk, CFO/Controller

Phil joined Columbia Stone, Inc. in 1999 as Controller. As Columbia Stone and Natural Stone Designs Controller/CFO, Phil is responsible for every accounting function and documentation that comes in and out of the doors. His irrefutable abilities as a Controller have helped both companies achieve substantial growth and prosperity. He is an experienced hands-on leader with progressive responsibility in finance, accounting and information systems.

In his close to 30 years in accounting and finance, he has acquired a diverse accounting background, working within multiple industries. Working in New York City and being exposed to the demanding and fast-paced environment has set the path for his unwavering and vigilant career.

Being a native East-Coaster, Phil’s interests include Football (specifically the Giants), hockey and fly-fishing (catch and release). His die-hard fascination with sports helped mold his ambitious nature and carved the way for success. His biggest accomplishment, according to Phil, is his family. His pride lies within his home, with his wife and beautiful twin daughters.

Tim Heintz, Engineering Manager

In 1990, Tim joined Columbia Stone, bringing with him an extensive wealth of engineering experience. Tim is accountable for the overall coordination of the drafting and engineering development. He manages all in-house and outsourced CAD drafting personnel. His department has well over a hundred years of combined engineering experience. Tim’s extensive understanding of evaluating designs and suggesting alternatives has helped Columbia Stone work on some of the West Coasts’ most prestigious projects. Tim’s favorite part of his job is the fact that he can create new designs and ways of doing things. He is always solving something; this in itself is intriguing to him. Tim’s view is, “there is nothing that can’t be solved and nothing that we can’t build.”

Tim continues to focus on his true passion of fishing. Tim enjoys fishing so much that he lives on one of the largest rivers in the Western United States. Tim also enjoys hunting and spending time with his wife. With Tim’s retirement in the near future, we look forward to continuing to utilize him as a consultant and offer our sincere gratitude for his decades of experience, dedication and most importantly, friendship.

Jeff Nyleen, Senior Estimator

As the Senior Estimator, Jeff is likely to be found beneath a mountain of drawings. His main responsibility is to review all potential projects to determine our interest. He also does the main take-offs for each new project, while working directly with the President for every proposal that goes out of the office.

Jeff started with Columbia Stone in 1995 and within the last ten years he has helped estimate over 600 projects, totaling well over $800,000,000.00!

Rob Bacon, Project Manager

As a Project Manager, Rob is responsible for managing every aspect of multiple design build dimensional stone projects at a time. Rob started with Columbia Stone, Inc. in 2004, with multiple years of Project Management experience, most of which were with General Contractors. Seeing that Columbia Stone offered a more specialized part in the construction industry, Rob brought with him his broad “GC experience” to help Columbia Stone understand the need of our clients. The part of Columbia Stone that Rob admires the most is, “the fact that we work in a timeless specialty niche with International flavor. In any given day we deal with people from all walks of life from all over the world.”

When Rob is not building global relationships, he enjoys Cycling; in fact he is often seen riding the 15 miles each way to work. He also enjoys the outdoors: climbing, hiking and camping with his wife and three children. Rob continually utilizes his strong family values, not only with his own family but with all of us, as he continues to be a mentor for the upcoming Project Engineers.

Jim Milne, Business Development Manager

Jim joined Columbia Stone, Inc. in the fall of 2005, as a Project Manager. Jim came to Columbia Stone with years of Project Management experience. Currently, Jim is responsible for all phases of the projects he manages, everything from contract administration to material quantification, project forecasting to project coordination. He has proved to be capable of managing multiple projects with persistent attention to every detail the project throws his way.

Jim once dreamed of being a professional Basketball player. His free time is now consumed by his love for kayaking, backpacking and woodworking. He also enjoys being involved in the local community, golfing and driving his 1964 Buick. His organized and dedicated qualities help him manage all of his personal hobbies, family life and work.

Josh Eubank, Field Operations Manager

Josh is responsible for all of the field’s activities; everything from direct coordination with the Superintendents to ordering material and equipment for the projects, from maintaining adequate manpower to quality assurance. Josh started with Columbia Stone in 2002 as a Project Engineer supporting the Project Management team. In 2004 Josh accepted a position assisting the Operations Manager. Josh’s decision to focus on Field Operations, rather than Project Management has proved to be a wise decision. Josh has continued to show his potential and currently holds the position of Field Operations Manager.

When Josh isn’t fielding the vast number of work phone calls, he enjoys spending time with his wife and beautiful daughter. Josh also enjoys watching Formula One racing (no, not the Indy League). His love for cars is even more evident with his “side project” - rebuilding his 1978 El Camino.

Justin Rotherham, Senior Drafter

In 2006, Justin brought his Engineering and Drafting knowledge to Columbia Stone, Inc. With his knowledge, Justin also brought with him his enthusiasm and love for drafting. Justin has been instrumental in leading the drafting department towards the newest versions of AutoCAD, as well as introducing new and advantageous engineering programs aimed at taking our engineering department into the next generation of computer advancements. He has continued to focus his talents on drafting and with this drive he has set forth a path in which he was recently selected to take over the drafting department at Columbia Stone when current Engineering Manager, Tim Heintz, retires. This, in itself, is a huge accomplishment and according to Justin, something that will always be a career highlight.

Moving around as a child, mostly in Oregon, showed Justin what is so great about the Northwest – the versatile, scenic, great outdoors! Justin’s hobbies include camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing and mountaineering. He mostly enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Bruce Siepak, Drafter

In 2002, Bruce Siepak came to work for Columbia Stone. Bruce has been working in the Engineering field for well over 40 years, and has designed hundreds of cladding systems. Bruce works tirelessly with the field Superintendents to ensure that every drawing is accurate, timely and well designed. He has designed the stone systems for projects such as, the LA County Museum of Art in Los Angeles and the Livermore Laboratories in Livermore, California.

Bruce’s favorite part about his job is the creative aspect of designing. Even when growing up his love for building things helped focus his talents. As a kid he dreamt of either being in the military or building things. He focused his dreams and turned to building model cars, which soon turned into working on cars. The attention and ability to see the end product during the “designing” or building phases helped Bruce excel at his current hobby of re-building transmissions, as well as designing building facades.

Danny Callaway, General Superintendent

Danny started with Columbia Stone, Inc. in 1991 and has over 50 years of construction experience. Danny is by far the most knowledgeable and qualified Superintendent. Danny is currently Columbia Stone’s General Superintendent, mentoring all superintendents, foremen and field crews. He continually runs some of our most regarded projects. Throughout his established career, Danny has run projects such as; The Crocker Towers in Los Angeles, The Seattle Civic Center Campus – including The Seattle Justice Center, Seattle City Hall and the Microsoft West Campus.

As with many men, Danny’s hobbies include all sports, but he specifically enjoys baseball, football and golf. Danny has called Portland, Oregon his home for years; however, due to his constant out of state work, it would be hard to say what West Coast state is truly home. Danny has been married for 31 years and has six sons, a few of which are following in his footsteps and are working in the Marble Mason trade.

Steve Franckiewicz, Superintendent

Steve has been a Marble Mason for over 30 years. He joined Columbia Stone, Inc. in 2000, and has worked on some of Columbia Stone’s most prominent projects such as the LA County Museum of Arts in Los Angeles, Cal EPA in Sacramento and the LADD Tower in Portland, Oregon. Throughout his career he has worked on high profile projects, including the Legion of Honor and Union Square, both in San Francisco. According to Steve the best part of working for Columbia Stone is the people. “I have worked for so many companies over the years, but Columbia Stone is different in that they make me feel that I matter and that I am not just another hired hand.”

When he isn’t running projects Steve’s only hobby is hockey. Steve got his first pair of skates when he was 6, and has been addicted ever since. Something that most people don’t know about Steve: he hides the names of his family carved in stone. Union Square in San Francisco, has imbedded into the stairwell wall, plaques of California flowers. His wife’s name is carved into the back of the California poppy, because “she is my California girl!” His son’s name is carved in Hebrew in the center arch stone at the entrance of the ziggurat on the Sacramento River.

Toni Moxley, Executive Assistant

Toni joined Columbia Stone, Inc. in 2005, and serves as the backbone to the executives and the marketing department. In her role at Columbia Stone she is responsible for creating and designing all marketing ideas, including: the company newsletter, the company website, all marketing material and company functions. Her enthusiasm, focus and determination help her see projects to a successful completion. As Executive Assistant she is also the liaison and right hand to the President.

Toni is a native Oregonian; in fact she grew up less than 1 mile from our main office. Her hobbies include photography, scrapbooking and spending time with her husband and three young sons