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

In this episode of Monument Matters, we explore how MBNA members can take control of credit card processing costs without changing providers or disrupting daily operations. Host Mike Johns is joined by Merchant Advocate’s Howard Goldstein and MBNA member Ryan Worthington, who shares her firsthand experience using the service. The conversation breaks down why processing statements are so hard to understand, how hidden fees add up, and how a performance-based advocacy model can deliver real savings. It’s a practical, easy-to-follow discussion focused on protecting margins, reducing stress, and helping monument businesses keep more of what they earn.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:01:35) - Merchant Advocates
• (00:03:12) - Merchant Advocate: Easy Process, No
• (00:10:38) - MB&A Member Assistance Program
• (00:17:05) - Orthodontists: We're On The Castle Walls
• (00:17:49) - Can You Change Payment Processor?
• (00:19:32) - Don't Overcharge Your Card Company!
• (00:23:32) - Does Your Firm Help With PCI Compliance?
• (00:27:36) - MBNA's Monument Builders' Connection
• (00:30:22) - Mind Matters: A Podcast About the Monument Industry