Truth Over Money: How Our Rating Was Born
From the Inside: Countertops Contractors & The Stone Magazine topic image

From the Inside: Countertops Contractors & The Stone Magazine

A behind-the-scenes look at how we’re building an independent rating system and an industry publication — one step at a time.

This section is our open journal — a place where we pull back the curtain on how the Countertops Contractors ranking and The Stone Magazine actually work. We share our wins, our missteps, our ideas, and the process of turning them into something real.

Here’s what you’ll find:

  • How we created the first independent national ranking of stone countertop fabrication and installation companies in the U.S.
  • How our team operates — analysts, editors, mystery shoppers, developers, and scouts working together.
  • What challenges we’ve faced, how our methodology is evolving, and what we’ve had to rethink along the way.
  • How we collect and verify reviews, evaluate contractors, build company profiles, and publish content.

We talk candidly about what’s working — and what isn’t. You’ll find insights, experiments, and even the occasional behind-the-scenes story that didn’t go as planned.

This section is for readers who want to go deeper. If you’re curious not just about the final product, but about the journey behind it — you’re in the right place.

Stay tuned, subscribe to The Stone Magazine, and come along for the ride. We’re building something big, and we’re glad you’re here to watch it happen.

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Our Magazine Authors

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Photo of Dmitiy Fedotov

Dmitiy Fedotov

Developer

Photo of Max Kuchman

Max Kuchman

Founder, CMO, U.S.

Photo of Dave Milligan

Dave Milligan

Editor

Photo of Dean Collins

Dean Collins

Editor

Photo of Debra Morgan

Debra Morgan

Photo of Mary Jones

Mary Jones

Editor

Photo of Dan Williams

Dan Williams

Editor

From the Inside: Countertops Contractors & The Stone Magazine For Professionals
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Portrait of Max Kuchman

Max Kuchman

Chief Author of Countertops Contractors

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Chief Author of Countertops Contractors

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