Betty Sullivan
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Architectural Ceramics, Inc. DBA Architessa
- April 6 - 9, 2027
- Orlando
A Coverings Champion is a distinguished industry leader recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the success and growth of the Coverings event. These influential visionaries are dedicated advocates who passionately promote the event and invest significant time, energy, and resources in its advancement. Through their involvement in educational sessions, expert panels, special projects, and outreach efforts, Coverings Champions drive industry innovation while elevating both the Coverings experience and the future of the tile and stone community as a whole.
While the Coverings Board of Directors selected the 2025 honorees, this year we launched our inaugural People's Choice Award to give the community a powerful voice in recognizing the 2026 Champions. The four 2026 Coverings Champions, People’s Choice Nominees were:
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Architectural Ceramics, Inc. DBA Architessa
President
Welch Tile
Editorial Director
Stone World
Director of Market Development
International Masonry Institute
The 2026 Coverings Champion, People’s Choice recipient is Jennifer Richinelli, having received nearly 1,500 votes. Richinelli, selected by her peers across the tile, stone, and fabrication industries, is recognized for her unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions to the industry and the Coverings show, including serving on the Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards judging panel for more than 15 years.
The 2026 Rock Star Awards & Coverings Champions Ceremony will take place in The Coverings Lounge, Booth 6014, Monday, March 30, 4-5 p.m. PDT, honoring this year’s Rock Stars alongside the 2026 People’s Choice Coverings Champion and Finalists. All attendees are invited!
Jennifer Richinelli has covered the stone and tile industries since 1996. A nearly 30-year Coverings attendee, she has reported extensively on innovations, exhibitors, and industry trends while building deep relationships across the tile, stone, and fabrication community. Jennifer has served on the Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Awards judging panel for over 15 years, bringing valuable stone expertise to the evaluation process. She has also actively identified and nominated emerging talent for the Coverings Rock Stars program. Through articles, video interviews, and podcasts, Jennifer has documented countless quarries, fabrication shops, and industry developments, consistently elevating the voices and stories that shape our industry.