About US

MEET THE TEAM

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  Nigel Eaton

  CEO Santa Cruz, CA

  I am Australian, growing up outside of Melbourne by the beach which led me to my greatest passion in Surfing. I have a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering but I was borderline on choosing an architectural degree as I have always had a natural enthusiasm for architecture and design. Over the years, I have designed and built a couple of houses in Australia and while living in Bali for 15 years, designed and built 6 high end villas there, as well as building the factory for Island Stone.

  I have been with Island Stone since 2003 not long after my family and I moved to Indonesia. I have been CEO of Island Stone international since 2008 and are now located in Santa Cruz.

  Travelling for me has been both the personal and the work adventures. A good amount of personal adventures have been chasing remote high quality surf, and I have found myself in many ridiculous situations along the way. My 3 sons also surf so I have been fortunate to have many magical family moments out in the water. My wife is Indonesian, she has a passion for travel and history so we do mix it up with trips to old world places like Europe when we can. With Island Stone I have spent a lot of time at factories in Asia and other places, a great way to meet new people and get glimpses in the window of everyday life which I really appreciate. I love having my mind opened to different ways of doing things, and the extraordinary things people around the world do, and how in many ways we are all so similar underneath the different cultural layers.

  Contact Nigel Eaton
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  Jeff Nibler

  COO and President of Sales Carlsbad, CA

  I began my life journey in rural Oregon and have enjoyed world travel since graduating college. I love having my home in Southern California now but adventure and exploring the world are my passions. I began my Tile career as a temporary employee right out of college many years ago. I am a dedicated life long learner and have made a great career out of adventure, caring about people and caring about my company. That has set me on a path to COO at Island Stone and I couldn't be happier. Our values are aligned in making cool products, being good to people and traveling the world.

  I am fortunate to have many memorable adventures in my life. Some of my favorite vacations are traveling to exotic beaches, soaking up the sun and letting myself relax. However, I think my favorite trip was traveling throughout Europe and attending Oktoberfest in Munich. I loved the culture and people almost as much as I loved the beer and pretzels. It was an amazing experience I hope to one day do again.

  Contact Jeff Nibler
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  Sander Nauenberg

  CMO Santa Cruz, CA
  Contact Sander Nauenberg
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  Chuck Heppner

  Founder, Consultant Santa Cruz, CA

  In 1978, Bali was one of my last stops after spending most of the 70’s backpacking, surfing and working my way around the world. This tropical paradise was beyond magical and I stayed as long as I could legally stay, but before finally moving on, I invested in some women’s clothing that I later sold in Hawaii and my life as a trader began.
  
  After circling the globe, I ended up marrying the girl next door and we began working on my new clothing design and importing business together. My wife, Jill, still operates the original Oceania boutique in Capitola with its 4-decade history with Indonesia.
  
  Chris Hogoboom and I started the North American arm of Island Stone in 1998 introducing the newly created Pebble Tile to the US. Our goal was to always do justice to the beautiful products of Island Stone with a huge selection, great presentation, and phenomenal customer service.
  
  I have stepped away from daily operations but remain proud that the foundations of Island Stone remain intact and that the company’s new directions still have strong links to its adventurous past.

  Contact Chuck Heppner
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  Jesse Stevens

  National Sales Manager Eastern and Midwestern US

  If the Island Stone motto is Tile Set in Adventure, then mine might have to be Adventure Set in Tile. The son of a tile salesman, I have been in the industry almost 25 years - doing everything from warehouse, to retail sales, to my current role with Island Stone. When I’m not selling tile, I enjoy live music, sports, and traveling (so Covid’s been a lot of fun). The shining silver lining to that has been all the extra family time with my girlfriend Erin, our baby Vivienne, and our dog Layla.

  Some of my favorite adventures have been skydiving, driving cross country, flying in a WW2 era bi-plane, and a recent vacation with Erin to Sicily and Barcelona. But my favorite adventure is always the next one.

  Contact Jesse Stevens
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  Matt Bergdahl

  Customer Experience Manager Western US

  My name is Matt Bergdahl and I live in Santa Cruz, CA and have been with Island Stone since 2004. It's been a great run from shipping to sample production manager to a (full blessing) year and half sabbatical living in Indonesia to 11 years in sales. I stumbled into this industry, but now take great satisfaction in my role of providing beautiful materials that elevate people's environments. I also don't take for granted the relationships I've been fortunate to develop and the overall quality of the people I work with in this industry. To many more years offering beautiful tile and enjoying the process!

  
  

  In my time in Indonesia one particular trip from Bali to a remote village on the island of Lombok really stands out. Traveling solo, I drove across Bali with a backpack and 3 surfboards strapped to my motorbike, took a 4 hour ferry across the Lombok Straits and made it to dock mid afternoon. I only had a general idea of where to find the famous wave that inspired my trip. Relying on a paper map, with no GPS or other connectivity I made my way south and soon found myself on a dirt track with the sun beginning to set. I knew that traditional accommodation was not available in the area, that malaria and other tropical diseases were still common and as the light faded I grew uneasy but had no choice but to push on. Long story short, I made it into the village past dark and with my broken Bahasa a kind family booted grampa from his hut and set up a crude mattress and mosquito net for me to sleep in. I stayed for a month and scored the most memorable waves of my life. The uncertainty and unknown path and at times high anxiety all heightened the experience. Over a dozen years on, I can still transport myself to the sounds, smells and sensations of that beautiful time.

  Contact Matt Bergdahl
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  David Tovar

  Director of Product Management Western US

  My name is David Tovar, I live in San Diego Ca, but originally from one of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico City. My curiosity and adventurous soul led me to move to the USA pursuing a better career and a better way of living. I have been in the tile industry for over 16 years and I have been part of the manufacturing world since the beginning of my career working in all different fields until I had the opportunity to work in design and product development. That is when I found my true passion for understanding how products are made and how we can transform them into beautiful things that can be part of our daily life. I joined Island Stone in 2019 with the main reason of joining a company that has the people, culture and values that align with what I believe. I love traveling, meeting new people and new cultures, Island Stone has given me the opportunity to do this and work with people from many other countries developing cool products and having fun while doing it. Our company motto is Tile set in adventure and is for sure my main driver, always looking for the next adventure and the next tile challenge!

  Contact David Tovar
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  Mal Fraser

  Product Development New Zealand

  My adventure with Island Stone, began 22 years ago in a small garage in Bali where the pebble tile was conceived. Today I am responsible for research and development and design with our suppliers in India, China, New Zealand and Vietnam. My early career in the construction industry gave me a keen eye for product and manufacturing insight. Over the years we have developed hundreds of hand assembled products in our factories in Bali & Java.

  My love of working with great people from all over the world developing product has only gotten stronger with the terrific team of clever people at Island Stone. I am proud to be part of the ongoing adventure.

  Contact Mal Fraser
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  David Fatula

  Director of Technical Services Carlsbad, CA

  Tiler by trade. East Cost attitude by nature. Famous on Instagram #TileTuesday.

  Contact David Fatula
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  Jo Mello

  Senior Staff Accountant Carlsbad, CA

  Jo joined our firm in October 2020 and holds the position of Staff Accountant. She has years of experience in accounting services in non-profit, public accounting and government entities. Her honesty, integrity and professionalism are qualities many people appreciate.

  Jo was born and raised in the beautiful country of Romania, Europe (where the legend of Dracula was born). Jo moved to the US in her early twenties, and it has been a great journey ever since. As the daughter of a mathematician professor mom and a scientist father, she was instilled from a young age with a love for numbers, structure and discipline. She has proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for four years where she began her career in accounting and auditing. Jo has a passion to serve other people and to increase her professional credentials.

  Jo holds a BS in Technical Management with a concentration in accounting in North Carolina, and a Dual master’s degree in International Business Development and Business Consultancy from both the US and France. While pursuing her MSc in France, she had the opportunity to explore Europe and start a new passion for running and participate in races. Jo did her first half-marathon in the heart of Paris. Jo and her husband ran their first race together in Ireland later that year. Today, they both enjoy race-cations in running marathons, triathlon events and beyond all over the world and love the enthusiasm their boys show towards this lifestyle. Jo and her husband love to cook, do outdoors activities and include their boys in all these activities.

  Contact Jo Mello
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  Dave Menez

  Regional Account Manager Northeastern US

  Dave’s career with Island Stone began in the fall of 2002. He was the fourth employee with the company, and spent one year working in what was then a very small warehouse in Santa Cruz, CA. In the fall of 2003, he and his wife moved to her home state of New Jersey. For the next year and a half, Dave explored one of his life’s passions, carpentry. He worked with a residential contractor, renovating beautiful old homes in Northern New Jersey. The experience working in the field has been an invaluable asset both in Dave’s personal life, and career with Island Stone. In the spring of 2005, Island Stone called Dave back to work. This time he would expand their operation to the east coast, setting up a new warehouse in New Jersey. Fifteen years later, he is still an integral part of our New Jersey operation. In 2009, Dave was promoted to an outside sales role, where he is currently our Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager.

  In his spare time, Dave loves exploring his adopted state of New Jersey. Whether on his road bike, hiking through the hills, or visiting one of the many state parks, Dave is always up for an outdoor adventure.

  Contact Dave Menez
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  Tammy Rafferty

  Regional Sales Manager Rocky Mountain / Midwest US

  Over the past 20 years Tammy Rafferty has been in the exciting and ever-changing Tile industry. She specializes in wholesale distribution of specialty and luxury tile lines and has worked with some of the country’s largest tile showrooms, dealers, and distributors.  Her strength and passion lie in helping businesses develop sales strategies that increase market share and promote the artistic elements only accomplished by beautiful tile.  Her love of working with sales professionals has been one of the most fulfilling and successful elements of her career.  She currently manages a regional territory of 13 states and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Colombia. 

  Much of my free time is spent in nature.  Living in Breckenridge has afforded me the opportunity to become an avid back country skier.   While I love racing down a mountain and darting through glades of trees at our neighboring ski resorts, there is something magical about the solitude and quietness that comes with time in nature back country skiing.  As JJ Grey would say in his Lochloosa lyrics “you just go there to escape reality…but you got it backwards, I go there to get back to reality”. 

  Contact Tammy Rafferty
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  Paul Sepulveda

  Regional Sales Manager Southern, Southwestern US

  My career at Island Stone started back in it’s very early days, in 2001. Being drawn to interior design and innovative products, I knew this new and unique company was for me.

  While I have worn many hats in the company over the years, I gravitated towards sales early on, as I have always enjoyed meeting new people and traveling. Here at Island Stone, I get to do the things I love, working with well designed products and traveling to all parts of the country to work with some of the most talented people in the industry.

  As a musician, my favorite adventure is traveling around the country to see live music! While I love all types of music and have seen hundreds of bands from all different genres, one of my very favorite bands to go on tour with is the Grateful Dead. Over the last 3 decades, I have been to over 75 shows all over the country. Between the deeply rooted americana music and lyrics and the thoughtful counterculture community, there’s no place I won't travel to catch a show! …hey, look out for me at your next Dead show ha!
  

  Contact Paul Sepulveda
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  Jaimee Vercelli

  Regional Sales Manager Western US. Hawaii and Alaska

  For more than 20 years Jaimee’s professional career has centered around color in various mediums. Growing up as the child of lithographers and being raised around dark rooms, old school film and color retouching, it was inevitable she would also find her way into the business. After spending nearly a decade in the printing business she was lured away from it by a client of hers that was in the tile manufacturing business. Considering tile manufacturing is rooted in color trends and finishes, just in different mediums than print; the transition into the industry was natural. She joined the tile community in early 2011 and has been a bonafide tile geek ever since! Falling in love with the visual enhancements and the emotions tile can evoke in a space, the various mediums tiles are manufactured in and the people in the tile community at large, she has never looked back. She has worked on projects all over the world and loves being involved early in the design process.Being a contributor to the amazing spaces that tile enhances is what feels gratifying at the end of the day.

  My favorite adventures involve traveling to new places, seeing new sites, eating local delicious fares, experiencing local artisans/crafts and listening to live music! All of that being said, as I get older, I enjoy doing these things the most without huge crowds. ;-) Finding places that fit that bill are becoming more rare, so I love the thrill of finding these gems and of course sharing these moments with the people I love. Corny I know, but that’s me.

  Contact Jaimee Vercelli
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  Justin Bower

  Customer Experience Representative San Diego, CA

  My name is Justin, and I started my adventure at Island Stone in early 2022. While growing up and currently living in San Diego, my hobbies have revolved around the idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches, and mile-high mountains. To the south, Mexico has treated me to many taco nights, and I am grateful to have experienced many cultural offerings in various towns along the border and coastline, including Tijuana, CDMX, and Ensenada.

  My only move out of America’s Finest city was to study Business Administration at San Jose State (go Spartans!). Following my recent graduation, I flocked back to San Diego in search of continued adventure and a desire to make a difference.

   Baseball is in my blood and the Padres have my heart. After becoming a washed up little league super star, I pursued my passion in the back end of baseball- umpiring. This alternate perspective allowed me to see the game from a point of view that very few are able to experience. While challenging and demanding, the experience was also rewarding and gratifying. I have hung up the cleats, and now focus my time as a fan of the Friars. 

  Contact Justin Bower
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  Angelique Herman

  Senior Customer Experience Associate Santa Cruz, CA

  My name is Angelique Herman, I’ve had the privilege of working for Island Stone for 10 years. I started in the inside sales team and as I increased my knowledge of our products I moved into a role to assist our showrooms with sample support and merchandising in which I’ve built great customer relationships throughout the years. I have worked closely with our team of experienced Regional Account Managers to assist them with anything they needed for supporting their travels and presentations and any new customer accounts. I look forward to growing in my new role as the A&D liaison and increasing my knowledge in design.

  
  

  I grew up in Santa Cruz and have always been inspired by the beauty of nature, my mother is an artist and my father is a musician, as I grew up I found my own creative ambition in photography capturing beautiful landscapes and moments captured in time. I have always loved exploring nature, seeing new places and experiencing the great outdoors.

  My favorite trips are finding the roads less traveled. One of my favorite trips was off roading somewhere in Nevada and traversing over a few creeks and a huge river to find some hot springs that I heard where incredible! The reviews were true, once on the other side of the river there are multiple hot springs alongside the riverbanks. After a long day of travel there is nothing more amazing than a good meal cooked over the campfire and relaxing in the hot springs under the stars.

  
  

  Contact Angelique Herman
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  Lisa Mosley

  Customer Experience Lead Santa Cruz, CA

  I strongly believe that a happy home and happy work environment add up to a happy life and I am fortunate enough to be blessed to have both in my life. I believe that if you give a little you can receive a lot in return both at home and in the work field & I see that strongly while working with Island Stone. I am a dedicated & disciplined with a strong desire to be relatable to both my internal and external customers.

  
  

  While I have a strong passion for white sandy beaches, road trips and discovering new things, I have found that my best adventures have been at home with my family establishing roots and creating wings. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

  Contact Lisa Mosley
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  Jo Ryan

  Customer Experience Representative San Diego, CA

  From the golden sun & cool waves of San Diego, a rare human emerged by the name of Jo. His desire to join the CX team with Island Stone in 2021 stemmed from a deep attraction to cultivate their company values–respect, smart work, & relentless improvement.His enthusiasm for the arts & delicious food continues to supplement his eclectic taste for music & a palate for spam musubi that is unmatched. Legend has it, that Jo can devour 12 cups of rice with just one can of spam. If he's not shaking hands with Mike Tyson at a New York airport, washing his hands alongside Tommy Lee Jones in a Tokyo restroom, or writing a silly bio about himself in third person, he is likely preparing to assist you for an unforgettable Island Stone experience.

  Contact Jo Ryan
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  Kim Wright

  Senior Customer Experience Associate Hollister, CA

  I have been with Island Stone since 2014, so for 6 years. I started out as an inside sales representative and have recently moved into our Marketing Department as a Marketing Manager. My background has been in retail management and at one time I worked in a tile showroom so I have some knowledge in the industry. I have also embarked on many remodeling jobs around my house and have used Island Stone products which I installed myself (with a little help from my brother).

  
  

  My favorite adventure includes traveling to be with friends and family who live all over the US. I love sitting around a table enjoying new and exciting foods while having stimulating conversations. Of course, we have to work off all of that great food by seeing some of the sites and enjoying local outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.

  
  

  Contact Kim Wright