Lettering is often treated as a secondary step in monument design—but should it be? In this episode, Brandon Billester of the Monument Lettering Center joins the conversation to explore the evolution of typography in the monument industry, from hand-drawn craftsmanship to today’s standardized digital fonts. He explains how new font technologies are reintroducing customization, creativity, and artistic expression, while also offering practical advice for shops looking to experiment without overcomplicating their process. From kerning to ligatures, this discussion highlights how thoughtful lettering can elevate design, create differentiation, and deliver greater value to families—even when they can’t quite explain why.

What does it take to turn a life story into a lasting memorial? In this episode, the team at Harrison Monument share how they worked with Salem Stone to transform a young man’s passion for motocross into a dynamic, deeply personal tribute that received the MBNA’s 2026 Excellence in Design Award. From early design concepts to supplier collaboration and technical challenges like laser etching and material selection, this conversation explores the balance of artistry, engineering and storytelling. You’ll also hear how strong partnerships—and a small-town perspective—helped bring this project to life and create a monument that resonates far beyond the cemetery.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:01:44) - Monument to Lane Hardist
• (00:04:18) - Harrison Monuments' Custom Monument
• (00:08:40) - In the Elevator With Custom Monument Designs
• (00:10:50) - Jet Black Granite for the Columbus Monument
• (00:13:46) - Vitec Laser: The Sculptural Treatment
• (00:16:11) - Signs and Decorations at a Cemetery
• (00:17:58) - The Monument to Lane's Death
• (00:19:23) - Harrison Monument Team Acceptance
• (00:26:03) - Monument Matters

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Troy Caldwell about the launch of Monument Builders Academy, MBNA’s new online education platform for monument professionals. Designed to support onboarding, team development, and industry knowledge, the Academy provides training that companies can deliver directly to staff at their desks. The conversation explores why structured education is critical for the future of the monument industry, how the fundamentals course benefits employees at every level, and what additional courses are coming next. The episode also highlights how shared learning can strengthen company culture, improve employee retention, and inspire the next generation of professionals in memorialization.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:02:08) - Monument Builders Academy
• (00:04:18) - MBNA's comprehensive academy training
• (00:06:54) - The First-Year Monument Training
• (00:09:02) - MBNA Training: The Fundamentals Course
• (00:11:33) - MBNA's four-year design course
• (00:14:12) - The Academy of Management: Pass knowledge to the next generation
• (00:15:36) - MBNA's Monument Builders Academy
• (00:20:59) - Monument Matters: Starting the Monument Builders Academy
• (00:22:08) - MBA and Monument Matters

New MBNA President Sean Longstreth, CM, AICA shares how growing up in a fifth-generation monument business shaped his passion for memorialization. In this conversation with host Mike Johns, he reflects on craftsmanship, the value of MBNA membership, and why personal outreach and collaboration are essential to strengthening the monument industry.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:00:49) - President of Monument Builders of North America Sean Longstreth
• (00:04:04) - MBCN: The Real ROI of Membership
• (00:06:43) - The Best Way to Get a Member to Join MBNA
• (00:08:25) - What are the biggest opportunities for monument builders?
• (00:11:59) - MBNA President reflects on the association's future
• (00:16:55) - MVNA President's message
• (00:21:11) - Monument Matters

Despite rising cremation rates, many families still want a permanent place to remember their loved ones. In this episode of Monument Matters, Mike Johns and Cristine Bouwkamp explore burial trends, green burial, and why meaningful memorialization remains essential for grief, remembrance, and connection across generations.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:02:03) - Cremation and Burial: What's the Connection?
• (00:05:11) - Do cemeteries care about cremation or green burial?
• (00:08:17) - Questions about Green Burial
• (00:09:33) - Cremation Rates and Monument Builders
• (00:12:02) - Questions about funeral and memorialization options
• (00:17:47) - Gen Z's Love of Home and Tradition
• (00:19:31) - What should monument builders think about memorialization in a cremation world
• (00:22:02) - Monument builders: More Community Involvement
• (00:25:10) - Why Does Permanent Memorialization Matter?
• (00:26:03) - Monument Matters: Cremation

Dr. Tanya Marsh joins Monument Matters to unpack what consumer research really reveals about cremation, burial and emerging options like green burial and human composting. The data challenges assumptions and highlights a key opportunity: education, flexibility and creative memorialization may matter more than industry narratives suggest.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:01:35) - Why are Americans so fond of cremation?
• (00:02:59) - Cremation and the future
• (00:03:24) - Casket burial and cremation: First choice
• (00:06:59) - Cremation and Memorialization: The Difference
• (00:13:19) - Cremation Monument Building
• (00:17:34) - Cremation and burial: Do people prefer cremation?
• (00:19:42) - The Survey of Death and Property
• (00:22:55) - In addition to the preference research,
• (00:23:53) - Law School's Growing the Diversity of Students
• (00:25:01) - Monument Matters: Death and What Follows

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Monument Matters, Ross Oglesby of Keystone Memorials and Dan Weeres of Coldspring discuss how CNC technology is reshaping the monument industry. They share real-world experiences—from early machine failures to five-axis sculpture work—and explain how digital modeling improves accuracy, safety and customer expectations. While CNC machines excel at stock removal and precision moldings, both emphasize that skilled craftsmen remain essential for finishing and artistic detail. The conversation highlights how technology serves as an “apprentice,” removing heavy lifting while allowing sculptors to focus on proportion, refinement and artistry.

• (00:00:00) - Monument Matters
• (00:01:07) - CNC Tech with Ross Oglesby and Dan Weirs
• (00:01:46) - CNC Machine in Monument Work
• (00:03:36) - Tool Crashes
• (00:06:02) - Learning Curve of CNC Metal Cutting
• (00:10:30) - CNC Metal Work
• (00:14:21) - What Made The Machine So Cool?
• (00:15:30) - CNC bench making: Dan and Ross
• (00:16:33) - Who's the CNC Operator?
• (00:17:32) - CNC Metal Sculptors
• (00:21:04) - CNC Machine Changes the Work Environment
• (00:23:07) - The Machine for Sculptors
• (00:24:14) - Sandblaster: CNC vs. Sandblaster
• (00:27:10) - Hand Etching on Stone
• (00:29:18) - 3-D Mausoleum Modeling
• (00:31:37) - Monument Matters

Are memorialists artists or tradespeople—or both? In this Monument Matters episode, Danielle Lehman and Steve “Kaz” Kaczmarski explore how design fundamentals, mentorship, and evolving tools shape meaningful memorials. The conversation highlights craftsmanship, lifelong learning, and the responsibility of creating lasting public art.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:01:31) - Memorialist Artists
• (00:08:12) - Danielle on Working With Many Hats
• (00:11:06) - Memorial Design: The Fundamental Skills
• (00:16:21) - Granite Working: New Tools and Technology
• (00:18:23) - Technology in the Design Studio
• (00:21:40) - Mentorship in the Memorial Industry
• (00:29:03) - Remembering the Art of Memorialization
• (00:30:56) - 2026: What You Want to Do in the Year
• (00:31:54) - Bill Boone Does A Stone Twist
• (00:33:37) - Monument Matters: Tooling and Carving