David Havens, President/Owner
St. Louis, Missouri
Combining his personal skills with his love for improving physical spaces, David Havens found his niche in the natural stone business.
David achieved his Masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Covenant Seminary. David’s entrepreneurial spirit led him away from a career in counseling and therapy, and into successful long term ventures in real estate investments, custom building, and distribution.
David’s career in the stone industry began in 1998, as a natural outflow of a very successful construction business. David sold his contracting business to focus solely on strengthening Global’s customer relationships, product lines, and reputation for high quality, beautiful stone.
“I love the product. Natural stone is not just a job for me; it’s a true passion. What other material combines such beauty and elegance with such durability and practicality? Everywhere I go, from hotels to government buildings to private homes, I notice and admire how stone is used, to the point of sometimes driving my family crazy with my obsession! As a major part of my job, I am privileged to be able to travel literally around the world, hand selecting the material that will later be sold in our showrooms. The quality of natural stone varies immensely, so our policy is to ‘buy the best and leave the rest.' I love the challenge of finding and securing the highest quality material for Global’s customers.
I love the customers. Buyers already know they want natural stone when they walk in the front door, so instead of giving ‘sales pitches’, we help guide them through the process of finding the exact stone to perfectly match their style and their needs. I love to share with them information about the countries and quarries where each stone originated. I also enjoy the diversity of our customers. Even though natural stone is symbolic of luxury, it is truly affordable for everyone and our buyers come from all walks of life. Working with each person is a unique, exciting challenge.
I love the work environment. I have watched with excitement over the years as Global has grown from a handful of employees into the booming business it is today. Being on the cutting edge of a fast paced industry is exciting, challenging, and all-consuming. From the very beginning, our employees have been our biggest asset. They are energetic, innovative, dedicated, and hard-working. They challenge and inspire me to continue to create an environment where they can succeed. I love working with a team that strives to do great things – and does.
I really do have the best job in the world. Buying and selling natural stone is not a 9-to-5 job for me. It’s a way of life. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”