Sharon Katz: From Stage to Stone

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

After getting an early start in the performing arts, Sharon Katz transitioned to her biggest role yet: a remodeling industry professional. “I have a background in theater acting,” she affirms. “18 years ago, I got a job working for a marble and granite business. Unfortunately, the business was plagued by miscommunication, to the point that more time was spent fixing mistakes than actually taking care of customers. This taught me the importance of communication in a customer-oriented business.”

After gaining further experience in the stone industry, Sharon became an independent stone consultant and a project manager for general contractors. While this new role allowed her to be more closely involved in the job, she still wasn’t satisfied. “Despite the fact that I was overseeing the projects, I didn’t have complete control over the quality because the contractors had their own crews,” she says. “This desire to have more control over the quality of the outcome really motivated me to start my own business.”

As owner of Sharon Stone Design, Sharon shares her strategy for providing consistently outstanding work and customer service. “When companies get too big, it increases the chances for miscommunications and mistakes, so I’ve made it a point to keep my business small,” she explains. “We don’t have salespeople or project managers—it’s just me; my husband, Guy; and our crew. Guy and I stay closely involved at every step of the project to ensure quality and a great experience for each customer.”

A resident of Sunnyvale (where she lives with Guy and their two children), Sharon spends her free time on a variety of pastimes. “I love going to concerts and theater productions in San Francisco,” she details. “However, my favorite pastime is probably hanging out with my family. We like going on hikes, sharing meals, enjoying good music and just being together.”

Regarding a professional philosophy, Sharon cites a valuable lesson from her acting days. “A big thing I learned during my time in theater is the importance of teamwork,” she says. “It takes a whole team to put a production together, and everyone has to support each other. You could have the best actor or director, but if the rest of the team isn’t doing their part, the production will be a mess. The same goes for remodeling. You may have an amazing designer, but if the contractor doesn’t bring a high level of quality to the building phase, it won’t live up to the design. That’s why teamwork is such a crucial element of our company.”

ASK ME ANYTHING!

Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Coffee in the morning, tea in the evening.

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Greece.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Get cozy with my family and watch a good movie.

Q: What was the last theater production you saw?
A: “Hamilton.”