MIA Releases 2012 Awards Program Call for Entries

Contact:
Marble Institute of America
(440) 250-9222
networking@marble-institute.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(MIA0030)

BE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR COMPANY'S EXCEPTIONAL WORK

CLEVELAND, OH, June 5, 2012 — The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has issued its 2012 Awards Program Call for Entries. The call for entries signifies the MIA is now accepting entries for their various awards. These highly coveted awards honor and recognize natural stone companies, natural stone professionals, and architects from around the globe.

In the current economic climate, it is crucial that your business receives as much publicity and recognition as possible. Specifiers, architects, general contractors and the public view recognition from your trade association (the MIA) as proof positive that your company is competent, professional and worthy of their business.

The 2012 MIA Awards consists of:

• The Pinnacle Awards are presented to companies whose projects' beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone in commercial and residential environments. As a Pinnacle Award winner, you will receive widespread recognition for your professional accomplishments. Again this year, with the generous support of Hanley Wood Exhibitions, all Pinnacle Award of Excellence and Merit winners now have the opportunity to invite an architect from the firm involved in their winning project to StonExpo 2013.
• The Grande Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Marmomacc is presented to the best project across all categories. This award includes a beautiful trophy and includes a trip to Marmomacc 2013 in Verona, Italy. Again this year, the award's sponsor Marmomacc, will present a Grande Pinnacle Award to an architect from the firm involved in the winning project. In addition, the architect will win a trip to Marmomacc to attend Veronafiere's week-long continuing education program on designing with natural stone.
• The MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award singles out one craftsman who has physically performed outstanding stone fabrication and/or installation over a period of many years. The individual candidate must have served as an apprentice stone mason and risen through the ranks as journeyman stone mason, foreman and superintendent. In addition, the person honored must have a solid track record of leadership and mentorship, a real educator for those he works with.
• The Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement was established to recognize an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the natural stone industry and the Marble Institute of America. The award is named for MIA's long-time Technical Director, the late Vincent R. Migliore, who was its first recipient.
• MIA Natural Stone Scholarship provides educational opportunities for aspiring fabricators, installers, or administrative apprentices interested in furthering their careers within the natural stone industry. The scholarship covers travel and registration costs for one or more recipients to StonExpo, the natural stone industry's premier exhibition and education event, and MIA's Annual Meeting. Attendance at StonExpo and the MIA Annual Meeting offers the scholarship winner the opportunity to gain valuable technical and practical knowledge, meet and network with leading stone professionals, deepen his or her commitment to a career in the stone industry, and explore his or her potential for future leadership.

To acquire an Awards Program Call for Entries, contact Helen Distelhorst at hdistelhorst@marble-institute.com or log on to www.marble-institute.com/awards. Deadlines begin in August...apply today!

About the Marble Institute of America

For over 65 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world. MIA is a registered provider to the AIA/CES program and offers training related to natural stone. Visit www.marble-institute.com for information on natural stone.