Behind the Scenes at Toro Stone: The Team Crafting Your Vision with Years of Know-How

Kevin Grotke and Rob McKay are the chief executive officer and chief operating officer of Instone, the parent company of Toro Stone. Although Kevin and Rob collectively hold six decades of experience in the building materials industry, Toro Stone is their first foray into creating an original line of manufactured stone veneers. We caught up with Kevin and Rob to find out about their careers, challenges they’ve faced, and why they felt the market needed Toro Stone. 

Tell us about your background. How and when did you first get started?

KEVIN: I started working in building materials in 1995, working for Owens Corning. In 2000, I started working for Cultured Stone and have been in this industry since.

ROB: I started in the building materials business in 1994, while in high school – first as a warehouseman and then as an installer. Once I graduated college, I worked in sales, and then I got my first opportunity at a leadership role. I’ve held lots of roles over the past 30 years, but I’m finding my opportunities with Instone to be the most exciting and enjoyable. 

Who were the most influential people in your careers?

KEVIN: Two of the most influential are my father and the founder of Instone. My father instilled my work ethic. He was someone who worked hard, was dedicated to his company, and provided for our family. Gordon Strout, Instone’s founder, is a true entrepreneur. He has been extremely influential in helping mentor me, guiding my thoughts and the strategies that have helped shaped our company.

ROB: My father instilled not only a work ethic, but the confidence to figure out and work though any challenge. If it is broke, fix it … if you never learned how to fix it, today is the day. Don’t be afraid to learn, ask questions, and take risks. Bottom line – be honest, have respect for others and always be there to help people in need.

Your expertise and products have been integral to thousands of masonry projects, large and small. Can you share a story about one that stands out to you as memorable?

KEVIN: There are so many projects that have a memorable story. My most memorable was the fireplace that I recently finished in my basement. I follow a Facebook group for veneers and listened to a lot of the feedback from the group on what to do (and not to do). Clearly, I don’t do this kind of work for a living, so it gave me a much deeper appreciation for the quality of products, as well as the skill required in the installation.

ROB: There is no one specific job that stands out, but the jobs I enjoy most are the ones where the customer reaches out to thank us for making their home look beautiful. When they send you pictures, you can feel the excitement and pride they have in their home. There’s nothing better than to share in that joy. 

What have been the biggest changes to your work during your careers

KEVIN: Extreme swings in the economy – the recession in 2008 and COVID in 2021. Both caused an incredible amount of disruption, opportunity and learning.

ROB: For me the biggest change occurred during the 2008 market turmoil. This caused me to move away from the building materials for a few years in search of an industry with more stability and growth opportunities. But much like Michael Corleone, “Just when I thought I was out … they pull me back in!” And I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

You’ve had decades of collective success working with a variety of natural and manufactured stone veneer brands. Why did you feel the time had come to launch your own line in Toro Stone?

KEVIN: Toro Stone isn’t as much about us as it is about the market. We continue to listen to the challenges in the market with stone veneer and look to provide solutions to those challenges. Over time, it became clear that if we were going to solve some of the challenges, it made sense for us to partner with a well-established manufacturer and create a brand that focused on solving challenges. This is just a start. We’re interested in continuing to learn and develop products or solutions that support the people who’ve worked so hard to build this industry. 

ROB: We have listened to the needs of the market for a long time and felt now was the time to help address those needs. We believe that we can support the industry and the trade to make all involved successful and enjoy their work for years to come.

More than a product, Toro Stone is a community. Contact us today to let us know how our people and products can help you accomplish your project goals.