Patsy Fell-Barker Receives 2020 Women in Stone Pioneer Award

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Natural Stone Institute
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oberlin, OH, February 18, 2020—Patsy Fell-Barker (BG Hoadley Quarries) is the recipient of the 2020 Women in Stone Pioneer Award.

As the wife of a fourth-generation owner/operator of BG Hoadley Quarries, Fell-Barker was destined to enjoy an active role in the stone industry. After the passing of her husband, Bert Hoadley Fell, Patsy become very involved in the business. She was determined to see the family name continue in the stone industry and wanted their company to survive. She was determined to continue her husband’s legacy and even sold her home to buy their first saw. She reinvested all she could and righted a sinking ship.

Patsy served on the Building Stone Institute board of directors from the late 70s until early 1982. She commented: “They felt that I could do the job, bring a new perspective of women being on the board, which hadn’t happened before.” She earned the BSI’s prestigious “Man of the Year” designation in 1981 and went on to serve as secretary of the BSI board in 1989. In 1992, she became the association’s first female president.

Patsy’s inherent success has always been driven by her passion for natural stone. She says: “I don’t care where you go, the most beautiful buildings and the ones that seem to be aging the best are those that were made from natural stone.” Her advice to women just entering the industry is to be willing to make sacrifices, which Patsy has, and to never give up. She recommends looking in the mirror every day and saying, “I am capable of doing this today.”

Patsy continues to set an exceptional example by still going to work every day. On receiving this award, she commented: “It’s very special to me. I hope it will be an inspiration for my family to continue to work as hard as they do now.”

Learn more at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/pioneeraward.

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About the Natural Stone Institute

The Natural Stone Institute is a trade association representing every aspect of the natural stone industry. The current membership exceeds 2,000 members in over 50 nations. The association offers a wide array of technical and training resources, professional development opportunities, regulatory advocacy, and networking events. Two prominent publications—the Dimension Stone Design Manual and Building Stone Magazine—raise awareness within the natural stone industry and in the design community for best practices and uses of natural stone. Learn more at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org.