Dave Scott, President of Slabworks of Montana, was born and raised in Minnesota. He didn’t realize that he would eventually be tied to the geologic history of his state, and eventually running a business there.
Start Me Up
During a summer between sessions at the University of Minnesota, Dave accepted an offer from a friend to go to Montana and do some upkeep on his friend’s parents’ rental property. It sounded interesting, so Dave packed up and moved to Montana.
Finding himself quite handy, Dave decided to make a go of a tile-laying business. At the time there was a shortage of people skilled in that trade in the Bozeman area. Starting with an old van and even older tools, Dave found he could make a decent living and decided to make Bozeman his home.
Slabworks of Montana began when a contractor asked Dave if he could fabricate a granite countertop for a bathroom vanity. Dave said, “Yes,” and by creatively applying a circular saw with a diamond blade and lots of water, he made his first countertop.
Early Growth
Dave saw the value in this new “side business” and before long, had invested in some real estate to house his new company. He also began purchasing granite slabs, some of which were quarried within a couple hours drive of his hometown of Minneapolis. Another Minnesota connection is with Park Industries, of St. Cloud, MN. They supply all of the stone fabrication and finishing equipment owned by Slabworks of Montana.
Fast forward to today: Slabworks of Montana is a thriving business contributing to the Bozeman area by creating good jobs for local folks and by supporting local non-profits. By the number of testimonials on their website, you can tell that their customers are really happy, too.
Inventory & Volume
From a business standpoint, Slabworks of Montana holds more than 600 slabs in inventory. He annually fabricates more than an acre of stone countertops, shower surrounds, and flooring, making it the largest company dedicated to stone fabrication in southwestern Montana.
Due to that volume of fabrication, Dave is able to purchase blocks of stone directly from quarries around the world and have the slabs finished to his specifications. That’s the source of his theme “From Quarry to Countertop. Real Stone, Real Value.”
Accreditation
Another feather in Slabworks’ cap is their recent accreditation by the Natural Stone Institute. This honor is only given to stone fabricators that successfully complete an exhaustive, multi-year, third-party review. The review includes customer service, business ethics, know-how, strong financial position, and safe fabrication practices.
Whether you are a homeowner, building contractor, or designer, you’ll want to get acquainted with Slabworks of Montana. You’ll be happy you did.
