Dennis's Background
Dennis Rude’s drive to improve the masonry restoration industry led him to found Cathedral Stone® in 1982. Through his extensive European travels and study under Heinz Jahn in Holland, Dennis has more than paid his dues. He has investigated centuries-old buildings, learned how to properly restore them, and single handedly brought this proven-process to the United States, making Cathedral Stone the exclusive North and South American manufacturer and distributor of the Jahn Restoration Mortars system.

Armed with his experiences in Europe, Dennis knew that this proven approach would stand the test of time and the elements in North America. With no other company operating in this capacity, Dennis knew he was on to something. He founded Cathedral Stone Products with the mission of pioneering a better method for restoring masonry—a method that would result in longer-term efficacy, higher cost savings, and fewer problems for building owners.

Today, his Cathedral Stone Products is widely respected among the North American historic and built industries for making a difference in how masonry restoration is performed. Dennis attributes his success to identifying the right process, products, people, and partners to get the job done.

As president/CEO, Dennis continually strives for Cathedral Stone to manufacture and distribute masonry restoration products that are safe for the environment and the people using them. Most recently, he led the development of Cathedral Stone’s 100% VOC-free water repellent.

Before founding Cathedral Stone, Dennis was the superintendent of Washington National Cathedral’s stone plant. Prior to that, he was a stonecutter at the cathedral and received the prestigious Washington Building Congress Award for excellence in craftsmanship for his stone cutting tracery on two of the cathedral’s windows.

Dennis completed his apprenticeship at the Stonecutters and Carvers Association of North America. He proudly spent four years in the U.S. Navy, including a tour in Vietnam.

Larry's Background
As operations manager, Larry Burkhardt keeps a diligent eye on the daily operations of Cathedral Stone®, including the company’s manufacturing facility and quality control laboratory. Larry also plays a pivotal role in helping direct the company’s strategic business initiatives.

Larry ensures Cathedral Stone’s ability to continually innovate the masonry restoration industry through his regular studies in Europe where he closely investigates mineral coatings. There, he works with some of the most well respected masonry materials manufacturers in the world to study the molecular bond coatings have with the masonry substrate. The knowledge he acquires is immediately brought back to the U.S. where Cathedral Stone meticulously records and employs the data to be used when tackling current or future masonry restoration challenges.

Larry joined Cathedral Stone in 1999 and quickly scaled the corporate ladder from in-house color technician to materials fabricator to production manager. He later became involved in the field, conducting onsite project consultations across North America. And in the early 2000s, Larry’s industry know-how, keen insight and attention to detail were leveraged in establishing Cathedral Stone’s quality control lab and manufacturing facility in Hanover, Maryland.

Aaron's Background
Aaron Wolk can talk brick, stone, marble, and mortars with the best of them. He leverages his talent to aggressively spearhead distribution strategies for Cathedral Stone®’s U.S. and Canadian operations by traveling extensively throughout North America. His prime directive is to cultivate new and well-matched distributor relationships. Aaron also directs distributor sales and marketing, and oversees distribution of Cathedral Stone’s environmentally safe masonry restoration and preservation products.

Aaron is also a second-generation mason and had his first experience with Cathedral Stone in 2000 while attending a Jahn Mortars certification class at Cathedral Stone®’s headquarters in Hanover, Md. At the time, he was a restoration foreman and masonry-cleaning technician. The class completely changed the way he viewed masonry repair work. Two years later he took the class again.

Realizing the magnitude of Cathedral Stone’s work and the innovation of its products, Aaron joined the company in 2003. He later became the head instructor of the class that had originally inspired his career move.

Aaron began his formal study of masonry at the Central Westmoreland Career Center in Pennsylvania where he studied masonry theory and principals as well as hands-on training. He later completed apprenticeship programs at International Masonry Institute and received his journeyman’s papers. Aaron holds active status with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.