The History and Staff of Elite Granite & Marble
In 1947, returning WWII veteran Gordon Bronleewe accepted an offer to purchase the business where he worked during high school, and changed the name to Oregon Memorials.
Over the next 50-plus years, Gordon (with the help of his wife, his five children and a host of highly skilled people) expanded his one-person operation to provide wholesale-only memorials to a five-state area.
In 1985, responding to the growing potential in residential and commercial stone applications, the Bronleewes developed a new division: Elite Granite & Marble.
Elite has not only provide custom kitchen countertops but also completed high-profile projects such as the Bonneville Power building, Riverscape condominiums and the installation of the Portland Vietnam War Memorial.
Elite Granite & Marble and Oregon Memorials have also coordinated with artist Larry Kirkland and other artists to expand into the field of public art projects. By providing concept development for stone applications, custom hand crafted etching, fabrication, and installation, several public art projects were completed. Included among these are; Portland Central Library steps, Dornbecher Children's Hospital, California Museum of Science and Industry, Westside Light Rail Stations, Penn Station in New York and the IRS building in Washington DC.
Now with 3rd generation involved in the family business combined with the advances of technology in the stone industry, nationwide, few stone companies can offer the diversity and depth of experience and commitment available at Elite Granite & Marble. Understanding, caring, dedication, and excellence is our business.
Dan Bronleewe
Vice President
Bronleewe, Inc.
Dan has been with Bronleewe, Inc. since 1974. He left for about 10 years in 1986 and started a business called Granite Graphics to design and sell custom granite tee signs for golf courses.
He returned to help spearhead and develop the special projects division (public art projects). Dan is currently the General Manager of Elite Granite and Marble, and coordinates all Special projects.
Matt Spaulding
Shop Manager
Matt began working at Elite Granite & Marble in 1997. He worked as a fabricator and installer for over 10 years.
Matt has traveled to Italy and over 11 states to work on Public Art Special Projects over the years. He was also the lead installer on the Riverscape condos project over a 3 year period before becoming the shop manger in 2006. Matt currently is the Elite shop manager and the operator for CNC machine.
Laura Bronleewe
Residential & Contractor Sales Executive
Laura began working at Elite Granite & Marble in 2005 and quickly fell in love with the stone industry. Growing up in the family business she often collected scraps of stone as a child, excitedly taking them home to her rock tumbler.
To broaden her knowledge in the countertop industry Laura traveled to Italy where she toured the Carrara Marble quarry and many factories. In Italy Laura was able to see each step stone goes through, from being quarried out of the mountain to the final installed project. Laura is currently working in Residential & Contractor sales.
Koral Tegner
Sales/Office Manager
Koral started at Elite in October of 2006 as the receptionist, she has since worked her way up doing various positions. In September of 2009 she was promoted to Office Manager and assists in sales for Elite. Koral currently handles all job scheduling for Elite.
She has had the opportunity to work some in the Special Project division in 2009 in Texas and 2010 with a trip to Italy. She is currently working on getting her accounting degree and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead at Elite.