THE
MODERNO
STORY
THE MODERNO STORY
Porcelain is a versatile and durable surfacing product, and it has been around for centuries. Until recently, there wasn’t anyone committed to efficiently fabricating and installing porcelain within the construction industry. That all changed in 2019 when powerhouse surfacing leaders saw a gap in the market and joined forces to revolutionize the process of manufacturing large-format porcelain in a fraction of the time and cost. Moderno Porcelain Works was born.
Large-format Porcelain Revolutionizes the Market
Porcelain is a versatile and durable surfacing product, and it has been around for centuries. Until recently, there wasn’t anyone committed to efficiently fabricating and installing porcelain within the construction industry. That all changed in 2019 when powerhouse surfacing leaders saw a gap in the market and joined forces to revolutionize the process of fabrication and installation of large-format porcelain in a fraction of the time and cost. Moderno Porcelain Works was born.
The future for porcelain surfacing is now.
Porcelain Dream Team Begins
As industry leaders, market makers, and problem-solvers, we are experts in the fabrication and installation of large-format porcelain. In short, no one else can do what we do.
The knowledge runs deep. Our lead installers have 10+ years of industry experience each, and our fabricators are true artists, all undergoing rigorous training and certifications in order to add value at every step of the process and take ownership of your project and installation.
Our owners and executives have defined and developed the industry. This unbeatable “porcelain dream team” consists of the premier authorities on the surfacing market:
- Roberto Contreras – former CEO of Cosentino USA, the largest fabrication and distribution company in North America. Through Silestone, Roberto was the first person to introduce quartz surfacing to the U.S. market in 1998, growing it successfully from no sales to over $400MM in sales
- Mike Heylmun – one of the nation’s leading executives in the operations of commercial and new home construction both at Cosentino USA and Camp Construction
- Douglas Dillard – over a decade as CFO for a variety of industries
- Armin Deutsch – former global product manager of Home Depot who oversaw $1 billion in annual materials purchasing
- Ben Szell – the founder of ETM Tools, is a globally respected expert who developed the tools and techniques to fabricate and install Moderno’s large-format porcelain slabs
This team also developed The Moderno Way, our proprietary turnkey process that has been the cornerstone of our continued growth and success.
Meet the Leadership Team
Roberto Contreras
Chief Executive Office
Roberto Contreras has been in the surfacing industry since 1987 and has made a name for himself as a respected entrepreneur. He has founded and owned several highly successful companies, including CSC North America and Cosentino North America, increasing sales from $0 to $300 million. Currently, he serves as president and CEO of St. Christopher Holdings, a privately-owned holding company (founded in 2009) and DC Partners, a real estate investment development firm.
He has received national and international recognition for his business accomplishments, including Time Magazine’s Visions of Tomorrow Award to Cosentino product, Silestone in 2004, and his Cosentino company was recognized in 2005 by Inc. 500 as one of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
Mike Heylmun
Chief Revenue Officer
Mike Heylmun has over 20 years of executive experience in the building and construction industry. He was a key partner in pioneering the North American quartz surfacing market and developing an organization that attained over $500 million in annual revenue. In 2000 and working with Roberto Contreras as the vice president of sales and marketing for C&C North America, he developed and managed the introduction of quartz surfacing into Home Depot, completing a national rollout within 24 months. During that time, he established and managed a national network of fabrication partners that serviced home centers, kitchen and bath, builders, and commercial projects.
As vice president of commercial and builder sales for Cosentino North America, he developed the strategic plan to expand the warehouse distribution model for the U.S. and Canada markets. He successfully increased each market to $67 million and $89 million respectively in 2012. In 2016, Heylmun joined Camp Construction as the COO and expanded the multifamily business from four states to 16 with annual revenues swelling from $75 million to $125 million.
Doug Dillard
Chief Operating Officer
In 2002, Doug Dillard entered the stone surfacing industry and has now worked with Moderno Porcelain Work’s core executive team for nearly 20 years. An experienced finance professional in a variety of industries including oil and gas, water utility, consumer credit, mortgage banking, real estate financing and development, and surfacing (fabrication and distribution), Dillard has worked with companies such as Citibank, AquaSource, Cosentino, PKF Texas CPAs, and St. Christopher Holdings. During his time at Cosentino, he managed large accounting operations with over $450MM in annual revenues at peak levels. He also developed and managed all KPI reporting and executive meeting reports as director of FP&A U.S. operations.
Along with extensive experience as a technology consultant, installing ERPs in public accounting and being certified in Microsoft Dynamics and Jet Reports, his accomplishments include being named by the Houston Business Journal as a CFO of the Year finalist in 2017 and 2018. Mr. Dillard is Six Sigma Green Belt certified and has recently become a member of the University of Houston Real Estate Advisory Board.
Armin Deutsch
Chief Procurement Officer
Armin Deutsch has over 25 years of extensive experience in project management, construction, merchandising, and purchasing. He previously worked for Fortune 100 companies such as Home Depot, where he was responsible for purchasing volumes in excess of $1 billion annually, and with Cosentino North America. His diverse background includes managing construction projects in major U.S. cities, as well as Canada.
Julie Kleine
Chief Marketing Officer
Julie Kleine is responsible for marketing, brand management, advertising, and public relations. She has more than 15 years of management experience in the publicly traded real estate industry, including global sales and marketing, trade show development, digital and traditional media, and multilingual communications for international, commercial, and land information management consulting firms.
Amy Manuel
Vice President, Human Resources
Amy Manual brings over 20 years of experience in full spectrum human resources and people programs, with specialization in HR infrastructure, employee engagement, organizational development, and human capital management in global manufacturing, software, and solid surfacing industries.
Franco Vergara
Vice President, Operations
Mike Boucher
Director, Business Development & National Accounts
Entering the countertop industry in 2006 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Boucher spent 5 years managing a territory for Cosentino North America that stretched from Houston, TX to Lake Charles, LA. Working for this large stone fabricator while earning his degree from the University of Houston, his interactions with customers and delivering successful projects left a strong impact on him. He then became a residential mortgage broker at NRL Mortgage for 7 years before the opportunity with Moderno arrived in 2018.
Combining business knowledge in banking with technical knowledge of the surfacing industry, Mr. Boucher loves how porcelain is rapidly changing what is possible with surfaces. As General Manager of the Houston HUB, what fuels him most in day-to-day operations is building a team environment where a conversation turns into sketches, then brings together the dedication of fellow vendors, suppliers, and more to transform ideas into a perfected reality.
Finding inspiration in the quote by Kahlil Gibran, “To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction is to live twice,” Mr. Boucher puts all of himself into every individual job. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family, reading, and exercising.
