M S International, Inc. (MSI) is celebrating a remarkable milestone in 2025 - its 50th anniversary. What began as a humble operation in the basement of a home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has evolved into an industry powerhouse with 50 branches across North America.

Founded by Manu and Rika Shah in 1975, MSI started with a vision of creating jobs, building partnerships, and investing in people. The company found its initial success supplying blocks of granite at a time when the natural stone industry was still developing in North America.

"This milestone is a testament to the resilience, hard work, and shared vision of every individual who has been part of this incredible journey," said Manu Shah, CEO-Emeritus. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone at MSI for their contributions and commitment to our dream."

In 1984, the Shahs relocated MSI to Southern California to focus on growing the business full-time. From there, the company expanded rapidly, developing a comprehensive distribution network with a large company-owned truck fleet that now services most of North America within 48 business hours.

While natural stone provided MSI's foundation, the company has significantly diversified its product portfolio over the decades. Today, MSI offers an extensive range of surfaces, including quartz, wall tile, hardscaping, artificial turf, and various flooring options. The company has also transitioned from selling natural stone commodities to developing proprietary on-trend designs under in-house brands such as W Luxury Genuine Hardwood, Q™ Premium Quartz, Rockmount™ Stacked Stone Panels, and Everlife® Waterproof Flooring.

Technology adoption has been central to MSI's success throughout its history. From early implementation of personal computers and fax machines to today's use of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and drones, MSI has consistently leveraged innovation to enhance operations and customer experience. The company's website, MSISurfaces.com, is recognized as an industry leader.

Despite its tremendous growth to over 3,000 U.S. employees, MSI remains family-owned, with family values continuing to serve as a cornerstone of the company's culture and operations.

Looking ahead, MSI shows no signs of slowing down. For its anniversary year, the company is launching its largest number of new products and product lines in its history while maintaining record inventory levels to support its customers.

After five decades of success, the original dream of Manu and Rika Shah - to create jobs, build partnerships, and invest in people while making dream surfaces attainable - continues to drive MSI forward.

Hear the podcast about MSI's growth strategy.