Stone Worthy, Inc.

355 E. IL Route 83

Mundelein, IL 60060

(773) 707-8511 www.stoneworthy.com

by Meta L. Levin

Javier Cordova is a stone mason with a passion for not only what he does, but also for the beautiful characteristics of the stone with which he works. “It’s an art,” he always tells his son, Giovanni Cordova.

In 2008, frustrated by the limits of working for others, he started Stone Worthy, a hardscape company focused on artisan quality custom hardscapes and natural stone masonry. Five years ago, in 2018, Giovanni Cordova joined his father, making it a father-son duo. “My father wanted to be known as a person who did things differently,” he says.

Together they have worked to grow the company. In the beginning there were three employees, one of whom was a mason. The other two were apprentices, who Cordova senior trained, eventually promoting them. Now Stone Worthy employs 15 people. “We have such a great team,” says the younger Cordova. “Our staff is dedicated and they have told us that they love being here.” To underscore that, he reports that they have a high retention rate and some employees feel that they have found their calling with this work.

Early clients came to the fledgling company through word of mouth, although the elder Cordova did do a little marketing. Gradually, customers began calling and, says Cordova junior, “It grew into something beautiful.”

The company offers architecture and site planning; Bluestone installation; brick and natural stone masonry; commercial and residential construction and maintenance; drainage, irrigation, lighting and site grading; fire pits and fireplaces; stone pizza ovens; gazebo, trellis and pergola construction; indoor and outdoor kitchens; industrial architecture; patio, walkways and retaining wall design; swimming pool, patio and spa deck installations and wine cellars and water features.

During high school, Giovanni Cordova spent his summers mixing concrete under his father’s watchful eye. He found he had an eye for design and read all he could find on the subject. “I cultivated different styles,” he says.

Now, when meeting with potential clients, he pays particular attention to their homes’ architectural styles, as well as the way they have decorated their living spaces and their personalities. “Then we put together something unique,” he says.

Although they do a lot of landscape construction, Stone Worthy still offers masonry work, both outdoors and indoors. They also are particular about the jobs they take. “We don’t take every job,” says Cordova. “Most of those we do take are our ideal.”

To further improve the company, Stone Worthy joined ILCA in early 2022. “We wanted to be a part of an organization that helps like minded contractors,” says the younger Cordova. He had seen The Landscape Contractor magazine and perused the ILCA website before joining.

The membership not only makes them feel like they are part of a community but also acts as a way to verify to potential clients that they are professional, insured and meet certain standards, he says.

The educational offerings stood out to him. “There is a lot of training available,” he says. “I want to continue my education and be up to date on the latest and greatest.”

The younger Cordova enjoys traveling and pays particular attention to the types of design associated with different cultures and styles. “I’ve been inspired by the elements,” he says. In fact, he describes himself as an “outdoorsy” person, who likes nature, skiing and hiking.

When traveling throughout the United States, he often seeks out nearby quarries and asks for a tour. “Even in my off time, I find a way to learn,” he says.

A Vernon Hills, IL, native, he lives with Louie, a seven-yearold mixed breed dog, who he rescued from the pound as a puppy and who is his constant companion.

With his focus on design and emphasis on quality, Cordova notes that most of the calls they get are from people who have seen their work elsewhere and are attracted by their attention to detail. “We take pride in doing things right the first time,” he says. “We pay attention to detail. It’s truly an art from start to finish.”