Bill Werder was born and raised in New Jersey. Upon graduation from the University of Richmond, he began his career working for a ceramic tile distributor. In 1988, he opened a marble shop for the company in Maryland and became directly involved in the marble and granite business. After seven years, Bill made a career move to join an international stone supplier with an office in Maryland. During the three years Bill spent with that company, he traveled extensively and became more knowledgeable about the industry and established a reputation for himself in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 1994, Bill was ready to build his own business and, along with an Italian partner, created a local-area marble and granite distribution company. After three years, the partners decided that their visions for the company were too different and, in August of 1997, Bill sold his stock in the company.

In September 1997, Bill started Avanti Marble & Granite, named for the Italian word “Avanti”, meaning move forward and ahead.

Avanti has recently constructed a 26,000 square foot warehouse facility and now employs over 25 people with two locations in the United States and an office in Brazil.

Bill lives in Ijamsville, Maryland with his wife and two children.