Our Team

Fred Hueston, PhD

Mr. Hueston is a nationally known consultant and the founder of Stone Forensics.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical and Physical Science (Limnology) (University of Central Florida 1981) and a PhD in Technical Science (Bridgewater University 2002). He is a certified master stone craftsman and Architectural Conservator, a member of ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) C-18 committee. He is a Technical Editor for Stone World Magazine and instructor for Certified Marble and Stone Inspectors via IICRC and has appeared on several television shows including The Discovery Channel, HGTV and several local talk shows.

Mr. Hueston frequently presents seminars and presentations for stone, tile and historical associations. He has published over 100 articles on stone installation, care & restoration in both the United States and foreign publications and journals.

• Author of over 30 books on stone and tile and has produced ten instructional videos.
• He writes a syndicated newspaper column “Around the House” for several papers across the US
• Has served as technical advisor, consultant & expert witness for numerous projects across the US, Canada, Asia and Europe.
• Mr. Hueston is currently the only individual who is recognized by the IICRC to train other stone inspectors.
• Mr. Hueston has served as technical advisor, specification writer and problem solver for the following:
  -US Government-Office of the Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.
  -Federal Court of Appeals, San Francisco, CA
  -Ohio State Capitol and Senate Buildings
  -Latirete International
  -Walt Disney World Company, Orlando, Florida

  -Los Angles County Library
  -Kennedy Space Center, “Space Mirror.”
  - As well as dozens of architect, engineering, law, government and private industry firms

Mr. Hueston serves as the Chief Technical Director for StonePro Solutions’ Stoneandtilepros.com

Jay Dunham

Jay has been in the masonry field for nearly 30 years, initially as a contractor specializing in restoration and problem solving projects across North America with a project mix ratio of approximately 50/50 of historical to contemporary. For the past 9 years he has worked as a consultant, both independently and for the firm NTC, and as a field rep for three firms, a granite producer, a high end precaster, and a manufacturer of terra cotta used primarily on historical restorations.

Construction and restoration / remediation projects he has worked on include Statehouses, train stations, federal buildings, libraries, hotels, hospitals, corporate headquarters, schools and universities, high rise properties, monuments and statuary, historic estates, parks and streetscapes among others.

Over the years in his capacity as a consultant he has been involved with everything from determining why quarry tile is delaminating for the concrete substrate in an industrial kitchen to inspecting and identifying a failing seven story travertine façade on an FDIC property near the White House.

Professionally he has been and is a member of various trade associations and served on the restoration and maintenance committees of the Marble Institute of America and the Building Stone Institute. He has served two terms as the president of the International Association of Stone Restoration and Maintenance. Additionally he has taught numerous seminars on stone restoration and spoken frequently at trade shows, conventions and other gatherings.

Charles Kibby

Charles Kibby has worked in the field of masonry restoration since 1983 and is considered an expert in the restoration of masonry materials including Terra Cotta, brick, stone, pre-cast and cast-in-place concrete, ceramic tile, plaster, and glass and porcelain mosaic.

He is the founder of CK Arts, an historic masonry specialty-subcontracting firm.

Charles has been a presentor at many restoration symposia teaching and speaking on the technical aspects of masonry restoration.

Monte Osterman

Monte G. Osterman of Racine, Wisconsin carries over 25 years of experience in the American stone industry and related services. First designing and then producing custom monumental stone projects, he began fabricating and installing custom stone work for residential and commercial applications in the late 80’s.

Mr. Osterman’s educational and professional background spans several service oriented businesses in addition to the natural stone industry. He attended Vincennes University and graduated from Mid-America College with a Management discipline.

He has trained fabricators and installers for numerous Midwest companies as well as at the request of major equipment manufacturers. Opening Osterman Granite and Marble when he moved to Wisconsin in 1987, he has always been a hands-on producer. His company has completed many of the projects used by Kohler Company for trade shows and advertising venues as well as other notable projects which include the Milwaukee Public Library, SC Johnson, University of Arizona, Abbott Laboratories, The Wrigley Estate, Racine Monument Square Restoration, GAP stores, and hotel venues such as Hyatt, Radisson, Hilton, Marriott, and numerous others. Mr. Osterman has been chosen as consultant on large scale commercial, high profile residential, and celebrity projects. He has developed numerous tools and pieces of equipment for manufacturers now in use in the natural stone industry and has been instrumental in the creation of the Soterratm product line, having developed technical specifications, installation procedures, and training protocals. Mr. Osterman has been lead consultant to several insurance companies for adjustment inspections. He has appeared on several regional TV and radio home improvement shows as an expert consultant and has co-hosted as technical expert on several training videos produced by Alpha Tools with the industries leading consultant, Fred Hueston and Associates, a firm which Mr. Osterman has become a team member of. Mr. Osterman has unique knowledge and experience in material selection, procurement, craftsmanship and installation techniques. He has spent the last several years teaching salespeople, fabricators and installers these fine points at his training center, around the United States, and at overseas locations.

Monte is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a Royal Arch Mason. He and his wife Mary have 3 sons and 1 daughter. They manage their several business interests together, are extensively involved in their community, and enjoy family fishing trips on Lake Michigan.

Monte’s unique background in various business environments allows him to fully understand the numerous challenges faced by small business owners in general and custom fabrication and installation services in particular. His sharp instinct and keen insight are valuable assets in today’s challenging stone industry.

Michael Roden,
Professor,
Dept. Geology,
University of Georgia (
Athens GA)

Michael Roden was trained in petrology (origin of igneous and metamorphic rocks) at the University of Texas and MIT, and has taught this subject at the University of Georgia for 24 years. He has a thorough knowledge of the physical and chemical natures of stone and is highly experienced in the microscopic and macroscopic analysis of stone material.

Dr. Roden obtained his PhD. from MIT in 1982 and after two years as a Research Associate at the University of Minnesota, he accepted an appointment as an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. He is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Geology where he teaches petrology and geochemistry and pursues research in the origin of igneous rocks. He is a frequent author (more than 40 papers) and reviewer of the scientific literature. Dr. Roden has served as a technical adviser to US Customs and Border Protection regarding the nature of imported stone products as well as to business interests concerned with the quality and durability of building stone.