Artisan 60 years young….
by John J. Sekora Artisan N.J.
In 1964 Arnold M. Hess started Artisan Tile and Marble Company of New Jersey Inc. (ATM) in the basement of his home. Six decades later it has become one of the largest tile companies in the United States. From a humble beginning of 3 employees, Hess, Sekora and Vermeire, it has grown into a true family business of 18 office employees (11 of which are Sekora’s, proudly entering its 3rd generation, now mentoring three new young grandsons).
ATM employs hundreds of union installers who are both appreciated and often included in its celebrations - from closing a completed mall project for a ‘giant thank you party’ to appreciation dinners including both current and retired team members. Artisan is lucky and proud to have so many great employees who have worked for for the company so many years. Currently, the average employee has worked for Artisan 23 years and there are handfuls of employees who have worked for us more than 20 years. Field Superintendent, Michael Kearns, who just recently retired, was part of Artisan for over 50 years! John Sekora, though, holds the record as he has been in the tile business for a lifetime of 64 years, starting at age 16.
Standing true to its name as craftsmen and artisans, Artisan has completed 46 shopping malls in New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, Atlanta, upstate New York and Long Island. It also specializes in hospitals, schools, pharma environments, airports and large office complexes. One of its crowning jewels is the tile and stone work at the new Jets/Giants stadium in East Rutherford NJ, completed in 2000.
Artisan is the recipient of numerous ‘Golden Trowel’ awards and has earned the prestigious title of ‘Trowel of Excellence’. In 2000 ATM was voted ‘Family Business of the Year’ by New Jersey Magazine. ATM’s officers have been awarded both the TCAA’s Carl V. Cesery Award and the MIA’s ‘Migliore Lifetime Achievement Award’. John and Doris Sekora were the first couple to be aired on the local radio show ‘Success to Significance’. Together they penned the TCAA’s coffee table book ‘Ceramic Tile In 20th Century America’ and created monthly ATM newsletters for many years.
Artisan’s philosophy is succinctly summarized in its personnel manual: Our product is not just tile or stone - it is SERVICE - and the customer is our lifeblood. We pride ourselves on our customer service and standing by our work. Similarly, our repeat general contractors are numbered in the largest and best in the United States.
Giving back to the community is one of ATM’s prerequisites. Mentoring other businesses at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s ‘Family Business Forum’, starting the TCAA’s Scholarship Fund, as well as being board members of the ‘Alliance for Excellence’s’ merit-based scholarship program, awarding scholarships from the stage of Carnegie Hall, sponsoring local sports teams, and donating tile to community projects.
60 years is a long time – Artisan has been there to see things change over the years; materials, regulations, installation methods, and people. Being in the construction business is like a rollercoaster and we have had many ups and downs over the years – recessions, shortages and a pandemic. We have pulled through on the strengths of our employees, customers, and vendors and the value brought by the thousands of relationships that we have built over the years.
We value all of our relationships and are constantly aiming to treat everyone like they are family. It doesn’t matter how you spell your last name – if you work at Artisan, you are part of the same family – the Artisan Family/the Sekora Family.
So, here’s to 2024 and the next 60 years...
