Sandya Dandamudi
President
GI Stone
Chicago
As the second-generation owner and president of stone fabrication and installation firm GI Stone, Sandya Dandamudi’s deep knowledge of stone, creativity and “get it done” ethos has propelled the Chicago-based company into the upper echelon of subcontractors servicing the commercial real estate sector.
The firm’s impressive client roster includes developers such as Related Midwest, Sterling Bay, Habitat, Lendlease, Onni Group and JDL Development and counts some of the Windy City’s most prominent recent developments as part of its portfolio, including No. 9 Walton, The Row Fulton Market, Sales Force Tower at Wolf Pointe and The Tribune Tower Residences.
“There’s nothing that excites me more than successfully completing so-called ‘impossible projects,’” Dandamudi said.
For example, Dandamudi played detective to hunt down an exact match for the elaborate antique carved stone base at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago during its extensive renovation, which GI Stone worked on throughout the pandemic. This project included sourcing, fabricating and installing nearly 20,000 square feet of stone.
In another project, GI Stone and Dandamudi relied on clever design tricks such as layering less expensive stones to create the look of a thick quartzite countertop, which met both the client’s high expectations and their proforma requirements.
“It feels a bit magical and incredibly rewarding,” Dandamudi said of completing such complex projects.
Dandamudi stands out from her counterparts for her ability to quickly assess and understand a developer’s vision, and to select, source and fabricate custom products for luxury designs, all while helping her clients stay on budget. She also strengthened her reputation as an empathic and innovative leader during the pandemic, quickly implementing CDC guidelines to keep her employees safe while continuing operations.
“We go the extra mile for our clients and employees,” Dandamudi said. “To ensure that GI Stone sources the highest-quality raw materials, we often travel across the globe to visit quarries, selecting the most breathtaking and unusual slabs. We also invest in new tools and technology to reduce costs and minimize material waste and labor costs. Finally, I hire talented, driven people who, like me, give their all.”
Working diligently to realize the “American Dream” in her own life, Dandamudi holds a powerful conviction that everyone deserves to participate in that dream. Paying it forward, she supports pre-apprentice programs like those offered at St. Paul Community Development Ministries, which expose people of different racial, gender and economic backgrounds to the stone-setting trades, offering apprenticeships whenever possible and recently hiring the first female to join Chicago’s Stone Masons Unit Local 21 as a marble finisher in 20 years.
When not working, Dandamudi enjoys traveling, eating at great restaurants and watching movies. She says she has a weakness for Marvel’s superhero blockbusters.
“But the most rewarding ways I spend my free time involve community engagement and philanthropy,” Dandamudi said.
She is Vice Chair and trustee of The DuSable Museum of African History, a strong supporter of the Big Brother Big Sisters of America, The Broadway Youth Center and, closer to home, stays involved with the River North Residents Association.