Louie Carnevale

Louie Carnevale, president of Carnevale and Lohr of Bell Gardens, California, has been awarded the 2008 Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Marble Institute of America. Carnevale, and Ed Lohr, both 21 years old at the time, established Carnevale and Lohr in Los Angeles in 1958, and built it into one of the country's most successful stone firms focused on quality and craftsmanship.

After working primarily as installers throughout the West, Carnevale and Lohr established a full service mill shop in Bell Gardens, a suburb of Los Angeles. Over the years, the company has produced some of the most memorable stone work in California, including the Getty Museum and the Getty Villa, the Creative Artists Building in Century City, and Our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles.

Always a hands-on craftsman, Carnevale spurned an opportunity to attend college and became a Journeyman Stonemason. From that point on, there was no looking back. Over a 50-year span, he has had a stunning career not only as a craftsman and ethical businessman, but as a mentor for those aspiring for a career in the stone business. Many of Carnevale's former employees have started their own companies with encouragement and advice from him. "There is plenty of work for everyone who does a good job," he said.

He has consistently given back to the industry. He served as president of MIA in 1989/1990. During his term he helped bring the Dimension Stones of the World (Color Plates) to the industry. It is still being used today by architects and designers.

Carnevale received the award at the MIA annual Awards Luncheon on October 17, 2008 at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, the MIA-sponsored stone industry trade show.