Paul Vigna, who spent over 50 years in the natural stone industry, has been awarded the 2012 Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Marble Institute of America (MIA). Vigna accepted the award at the annual MIA Awards Luncheon held during StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2013 in Las Vegas, NV.

Paul has a very unique work history, first starting in the field, and later moving into the office setting as an estimator, and eventually becoming the President of the Stone Division for Artisan Tile & Marble. 

His career started in 1963 when Paul was looking for work and his uncle told him there was a temporary job available at Everlasting Terrazzo, Tile and Marble in Trenton, New Jersey. He took the job. “I started as a helper in the field for a union contractor, became a setter and eventually worked my way into the office,” Vigna remembers.

Impressed with his work ethic, management sent him to night school to learn blueprint reading, and then promoted him to drafting. To further his education, he took architectural courses at Mercer County Community College and Princeton University.

After spending many years working in Trenton, Atlantic City and New York, Paul operated his own firm, Reynolds Tile, Terrazzo and Marble in Trenton for 14 years. In 1992, he joined Artisan Tile and Marble Company of New Jersey, which today is one of the largest commercial stone contractors in the state. Shortly after he joined the company, he was promoted to president of the firm’s Artisan Stone Division. Artisan Tile and Marble is well known in the New York City and northern New Jersey market for expert installations of complex stone and tile projects, as evidenced by the 35 Golden Trowel awards that Artisan Tile & Marble has received over the years.

“Paul is one of those unique, rare individuals who have knowledge beyond compare,” said John Sekora, chairman of Artisan Tile and Marble. “He is a true craftsman and artisan. He knows his field. He works with general contractors, architects, and designers. His knowledge is so vast that everyone wants a little part of him. He is responsible for many of the Golden Trowel Awards that we have received. His name is well known in the industry.” 

Along with having an outstanding career in the working part of the industry, Vigna has also given back to the stone industry after being elected to the MIA Board of Directors in 2000. He served as treasurer 2001 and moved through the ranks to become President of the Marble Institute of America in 2004.  He is still one of the MIA’s greatest supporters. He also believes in the next generation and has spent countless hours mentoring newcomers to the industry. For several years, Paul has offered his services as a consultant to the stone industry and general public sharing his expertise and recommendations for stone related projects.

Winning the Migliore Award is bitter sweet for Paul Vigna Jr. He and Vince Migliore, the man for whom the MIA Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement was named, were close friends for decades. Paul said, “I find myself being very humbled with this award.”

 “I’ve known two superstars in the stone industry in my life,” says John Sekora. “One of them is Mr. Migliore and the other is Paul Vigna. He has given so much, not only to the industry and to Artisan Tile and Marble, but as a director and president of MIA and has become a worldwide factor in the industry.”

Brett Rugo, who nominated Paul for this prestigious award added, “Paul was a very close friend of Vince Migliore, and I am sure Vince would be pleased to see Paul’s name as a recipient of his award. Paul’s commitment to his family, community, and professional life all speak to the well rounded life he has led.”

Paul and his wife, Judy, have been married for 51 years.  They have three children, Christopher, Michael and Debbie and enjoy spending as much time as possible with their six grandchildren.