Today we’d like to introduce you to Ignacio Paniagua.
Hi Ignacio, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Ignacio Paniagua — I am Spanish-born from Alicante, right by the Mediterranean Sea. Following the completion of my Masters in Civil Engineering, I had the opportunity to do an exchange program at the University of Miami, which was my first time living in the United States. Being the renegade engineer that I am, I realized I preferred the business side of things over the technical, which led to my decision to complete an MBA in France.
Fast forward to today, I have been with global surfacing leader Cosentino now for six years. The Spanish, family-owned company was a perfect fit for my career focus, allowing me to move back to the United States, where I have been proud to be a Floridian since 2019, living now in Orlando.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have been very fortunate to have access to educational opportunities, a happy childhood, and a loving family. I have indeed worked hard to get where I am, but it is a fact I wouldn’t be here with those factors playing in my favor, so I am a lucky man. Unfortunately, my wife and I couldn’t travel to Spain due to visa restrictions, so not seeing our family for over two years has been difficult, especially after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Nevertheless, we have always felt very welcome in Florida and love living in Orlando.
We’ve been impressed with Cosentino North America, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cosentino Group is a global, family-owned company headquartered in Almeria, Spain, on a mission to produce and distribute the best of high-value and innovative surfaces for the world of architecture and design. We work together with our clients and partners to provide inspiring design solutions.
This mission is exemplified through Cosentino’s pioneering and leading brands such as Silestone®, Dekton®, and Sensa by Cosentino® — all technologically advanced surfaces, crafted using industry-leading manufacturing processes, that support the creation of unique environments and designs for commercial and residential spaces.
We’re also committed to change to help protect our planet – and Cosentino’s product innovations are focused on developing sustainable materials and manufacturing processes to provide eco-friendly solutions.
We have a beautiful showroom in Orlando (7725 Winegard Rd) and a dedicated team of 18 people helping homeowners, designers, and architects select materials and make their innovative spaces a reality. Everyone is welcome to come and take a tour!
Any big plans?
After much traveling in the last few years, we are looking to settle in Orlando for a change. The city offers a great quality of life and a good balance of professional choices and family living.
In terms of our future plans for Cosentino, we’re continuing to focus on sustainability and recently introduced a totally new product category — The Ultimate Mineral HybriQ Surface — with the launch of our exclusive HybriQ+ technology for Silestone.
Silestone with HybriQ starts with a high-performance blend of premium minerals, quartz, and recycled materials, using 99% recycled water and 100% renewable energy, with zero water discharge. Beyond HybriQ there’s also HybriQ+, which includes a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials to its composition. This unique mineral composition allows Cosentino to create new colors and textures, while maintaining the technical features that homeowners and design professionals expect from Silestone, including stain, acid, shock, and scratch resistance.
Cosentino is set to launch its biggest Silestone campaign in nearly 20 years, celebrating our industry-leading sustainability innovations, and will mark the first dedicated campaign since its rebranding in 2021 — we are incredibly proud and excited of this upcoming initiative.
Contact info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CosentinoUSA/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CosentinoUSA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosentinousa/
- Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cosentino/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.es/grupocosentino/
Image Credits
Cosentino
