141: Upcoming Designer Networking Opportunities with Cosentino

As we head into a new year, you might be looking for opportunities to uplevel your business, and one great way to do that is to attend networking events that will help you connect with other designers and vendors. I’m excited to share an event with Cosentino coming up in February, and Cosentino’s Regional General Manager Scott Newhan and Account Manager Jason Shephard are joining me on this episode to give us all the details! Scott and Jason talk about the history of the C.Next event, what designers can expect when they attend, and highlights from the event’s agenda. They also share with us their personal journeys into the design world, what makes Cosentino special (including their commitment to the environment and sustainability), and other opportunities to connect with the Cosentino business and brand. If you want to start 2024 off with some inspiration and a fresh networking opportunity, tune into this episode to see if this event is right for you!About Scott NewhanScott started his career a little over 30 years ago as a warehouse worker at Morena Tile on Morena Blvd. He worked hard and was able to work his way up through the ranks. In 2001, he started with Import Stone as an outside sales rep and worked his way up to GM of the San Diego location. In 2008, Cosentino bought Import Stone and he has been with Cosentino ever since. He ran the San Diego location until 2016, and was then promoted to the GM of the Anaheim HUB. He was able to grow the sales there and won GM of the year, commercials sales of the year, and many container sales contests. In June of 2023, he was promoted to Regional General Manager covering Anaheim/San Diego and Las Vegas. He has thoroughly enjoyed his over 15 years with Cosentino and plans to continue until retirement. For his hobbies, he enjoys off-roading in the desert. He is also an avid shooter, a landscape painter, and is now on his way to becoming a private pilot. About Jason ShephardJason first entered the construction industry as a freshman in high school working for his father’s company in Illinois. His father owned and operated a countertop fabrication and installation company, and Jason worked in the shop, learning to fabricate and install countertops. Later he learned digital/laser templating, CAD drawings/layouts, and CNC programming/operating. He got married in 2006 and in 2013, moved back to his wife's hometown to be near her family in North County San Diego. He started his first sales job for a fabrication company in Escondido, where he learned in-home sales and worked with designers to bring their clients’ kitchen and bath dreams to life. This introduced him to many San Diego designers. In early 2021, he made the move to Cosentino as part of the San Diego sales team. In this role, he represents the Cosentino brands–Silestone, Dekton, and Sensa granite–in the professional market. He works with and supplies architectural surfaces to designers, kitchen studios, fabricators, contractors, and other industry professionals for their clients and projects.  Featured in this episodeFeatured deck: Radiant Crystal Cards by Bouchette DesignConnect with CosentinoWebsiteCosentino InstagramScott’s InstagramC.Next Designers Edition Event WebsiteAre you an interior designer or are you interested in Holistic Interior Design? Check out my membership program, the Design Coven! This program is a real-world industry mentorship for Holistic Interior Designers that has everything you won't find in traditional design school curriculum. You'll learn from practicing interior designers working on real life projects, and get access to cutting edge vendors, suppliers, furniture makers, textile designers, and design resources that I've curated over my 17 years of design experience. As a member, you'll have the opportunity to build valuable relationships of your own. Learn more.Connect with Rachel LarraineWebsiteInstagramPatreonInterior Design ServicesInterior Design ResourcesHouzz (Affiliate Link)