Satisfied, happy, safe and healthy employees and customers, while producing a fair business profit
Dee & Dusty Spitler
Core Values Are:
Highest standards of health and safety.
Honesty, integrity, and accountability.
Quality and professional products and craftsmanship.
Conduct business with fair and honorable standards of competition.
Deal fairly with customers, employees and suppliers.
Constantly strive to improve our product knowledge, education, designs and installations.
There are lots of steps and details with what we do. We truly believe that if every one of us is clear on our responsibilities, performs them when required, communicates in a timely manner, backs up each other, makes
corrections and adjustments in a timely manner, follows up, becomes accountable for our actions, desires excellence in tasks . . . the tasks become effortless, we build an efficient team, we all have fun and pride in what we do, and we reach our mission.
The evidence of proven success for The Granite Shop of Northern Arizona is mainly due to the integrity and accountability of the owner,
Dee Spitler.
"We have replaced entire kitchens when we were responsible for the error."
Dee Spitler is married to Dusty Spitler, has three sons and five grandkids. Spitler has been in the kitchen business for 15 years, including as an Operations Manager in Saudi Arabia for a cabinet manufacturing and installation company. Previous to this, Spitler was remodeling real estate throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Flagstaff and Prescott. Spitler also spent three years in Thailand as a Project Manager for a large agriculture and irrigation project.
Upon moving to Prescott, Spitler’s intention was to slow down and enjoy the quality of life in the small town of Prescott, Arizona. Spitler was informed a small granite countertop shop in town was for sale. It seemed like a good fit to add to his cabinet business. In the first week of taking over the operations, Spitler realized what he had done. He had bought a business with five employees, with an average age of 21, and only six months' experience. The existing office manager was waiting to quit as soon as the sale was completed, and the company’s reputation for quality and service had lots to desire.
Spitler realized to turn this business around, he would have to roll up his sleeves. Spitler spent the first six months arriving at 5:00 a.m. with his crews, running the shop and supervising installations. After his 10 hours there, Spitler would work in the office, often until 8:00 p.m., doing all the administrating, marketing and accounting details.
After hiring his best friend, John Van Herpen (the last of the renaissance men), to run operations, Spitler was finally able to address actual business planning. With an extreme shortage of quality craftsman in this specialized trade, they finally began to attract a good team. Of the original group of employees, only one remains. They now employ close to 30 good people.
Spitler is a certified leader in a men’s organization called The Mankind Project. He trains men on issues such as accountability, integrity, and emotional awareness. He practices these qualities with his customers, employees and family.
"We do not have a table in our conference room. We sit in a round circle. Everyone has an equal voice."
The Granite Shop has grown from two kitchens per week, to 12 kitchens. They are on track to produce 15-20 kitchens per week by year end. Sales have grown from $750k two years ago, to $3m expected this year. They have contracts for over 600 houses during the next 12 months.
Spitler is a member of the Yavapai County Contractors Association, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, and Marble Institute of America. Spitler also donates money and time to several animal rescue groups and other non-profit groups in his community.
The combination of the construction boom, the influx of baby-boomers moving to Prescott, the demand for granite countertops, and Spitler’s integrity, as well as his approach to customer service, employee team building, family support, and community service, has made
The Granite Shop of Northern Arizona, “a company to watch”.
