When we learned about the unique path to business ownership taken by Sandya Dandamudi, president of Taylor Johnson client GI Stone, we pitched her story and some of the reasons for her success – growing up with parents in interior design and engineering, noting firsthand the surging demand for the beauty of natural stone, and connecting with mentors who helped her pivot the second-generation business into the commercial real estate sector – for a profile in Bisnow’s Origin Stories. Read the full feature here to learn how Dandamudi’s knowledge of materials and complex processes, and her knack for building and nurturing relationships, led to GI Stone becoming the trusted subcontractor for sourcing, fabricating and installing custom stone on high-profile projects such as One Bennett Park, Optima Signature, NEXT Apartments, No. 9 Walton, Fulton East and the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

Sandya Dandamudi travels the world to find the perfect stone for her clients’ projects. This Blue de Savoie marble slab from a quarry in Italy was selected for the lobby floor of Chicago’s One Bennett Park, developed by TJ client Related Midwest.