THE WOMEN LEADING FISHER MARANTZ STONE By RANDY REID
At first, Charles Stone didn't want to talk about himself. Sitting in the EdisonReport studio during Light + Building in Frankfurt, the longtime Fisher Marantz Stone principal repeatedly redirected questions away from his own remarkable career and toward the people he believes will define the firm's future. Again and again, the conversation returned to the same subject. The women of Fisher Marantz Stone. By the time our interview ended, it was clear there was a larger story to tell. A few weeks later, I scheduled a Zoom call with Paula Martinez-Nobles and three of the firm's Senior Associates Katie Czub, Kristina Jajalla, and Amy Leder. That conversation revealed something Charles already understood.
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designing lighting
The future of Fisher Marantz Stone is being shaped by a remarkable group of women, each bringing a different leadership style, perspective, and path to one of the world's most respected lighting design firms. At the center of that story is Paula Martinez-Nobles. When Paula became president of Fisher Marantz Stone in January 2025, the title felt both significant and entirely natural. For years, newer designers had already been looking to her for guidance. Clients relied on her judgment. Colleagues sought her counsel. Leadership, in many ways, had arrived long before the title. Yet what became most apparent during our recent conversation was not Paula's achievement, but her instinct to promote and advocate for her team.