In the eyes of Marc Archambault ’94, “every stone has its own personality.” Archambault describes his work as a creative, joyous outlet. The sounds of freight trains passing by the stone yard in Asheville, N.C., punctuate his serious commentary on the craft of stonemasonry and his life choices.

A psychology major and philosophy minor, Archambault, an Exeter, R.I. native, first visited Asheville when he “chased a girl” there. Happily, the chase panned out; he and Kristin Cozzolino, originally from Westerly, R.I., have been happily married for 12 years. “We’re still crazy about each other,” Archambault enthuses. They have two young sons, Abe and Allie, who are into “pebble relocation. “Abe is more of a project manager, Allie more of a laborer.”

Archambault did not graduate intending to practice stonemasonry. Having worked with developmentally disabled adults for several years while an undergraduate, he pursued a career in human services. He taught English in Korea and, with Kristin, in Thailand. They lived for several years in Portland, Ore. And then, Archambault had an epiphany. “I wanted my kids to see that you could do something you loved, that was cool, and you could make a living that way.”

Archambault started Hammerhead Stoneworks in 2009. And while he misses the beauty of Rhode Island, he loves the rhythms of his new home. Favorite projects include an “old school” style stone cabin with three-foot-thick walls near Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in the region, and his only work of public art, a “Nautilus patio” that stands in a Gainesville, Fla. public utilities compound.

Today, Hammerhead is thriving. And Archambault makes his living doing what he loves.

—Melanie Coon

See more of Marc’s stonework at:hammerheadstoneworks.com