He Started a Stone Company at 17. Now He Builds America's Luxury Homes | Josiah Lilly | EP. 28

Welcome back to the Cutting Edge Install Podcast, brought to you by Omni Cubed — where innovation meets installation and everything in between. In this episode, host Merv Campbell sits down with Josiah Lilly, CEO (or as he puts it, "Creative Energy Officer") of Epic Ceramic & Stone, for an inspiring conversation about craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, innovation, and building one of the country's premier luxury tile and stone companies. Josiah shares how he entered the trades at just 16 years old before launching Epic Ceramic & Stone at only 17. From those humble beginnings, he has grown the company into a leader in high-end residential tile and stone, completing some of the most prestigious homes in the country while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality, creativity, and client experience. This episode explores what truly separates exceptional contractors from average ones—from meticulous planning and digital workflows to empowering employees and creating a company culture built around family, passion, and excellence. Josiah also explains why embracing technology doesn't replace craftsmanship—it enhances it, allowing his team to deliver more creative work while giving clients greater confidence throughout the process. Merv and Josiah dive into the realities of installing multi-million-dollar projects, handling delicate materials, investing in new technology, and why the best companies never stop evolving. Whether discussing digital templating, custom shop drawings, or the importance of listening to installers when developing new tools, the conversation is filled with practical wisdom for anyone working in the trades. In this episode, you'll hear them discuss: How Josiah started Epic Ceramic & Stone at just 17 years old The systems behind successful luxury tile and stone installations Why planning and communication prevent costly mistakes How technology improves craftsmanship without replacing it The importance of empowering employees and building company culture Why reputation and quality matter more than competing on price Investing in new equipment that creates a competitive advantage The challenges of handling oversized slabs and luxury materials How client collaboration leads to better project outcomes Advice for young entrepreneurs entering the skilled trades From leadership and innovation to craftsmanship and company culture, this episode is packed with valuable insight for tile installers, stone fabricators, contractors, shop owners, and anyone passionate about building a business that stands the test of time. Learn more about Omni Cubed: https://omnicubed.com/ Learn more about Epic Ceramic & Stone: https://epicstone.net/ Chapters (00:00:02) - Cutting Edge Install Podcast(00:01:09) - CEO Josiah Lilly on Starting a Business at 17 ((00:06:47) - Tiling $300 Million Homes(00:12:22) - The Real Estate of Home Inspection(00:12:59) - Projects that give you sleepless nights(00:14:58) - Do You Ever Compete With Your Builders?(00:18:32) - Do You Do Digital Templating?(00:22:32) - Heavy Construction Materials, Modern Handling(00:25:38) - Deciding Between a Machine or a New Tool?(00:29:48) - Challenges of moving stones into houses(00:31:41) - What's Your Biggest Challenge?(00:33:02) - Epic Tile Installations: Communication(00:34:59) - Epic Software CEO on the Company's Culture(00:38:38) - Start Your Own Business at 17(00:41:49) - Epic Stone Refinishing: Next Step