MIA Repeats Valuable Fabricator Benchmarking Survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLEVELAND, OH, September 20, 2010 — Over 1,200 North American fabricators received a request to participate in the third annual benchmarking survey from the Marble Institute of America. The survey solicits financial information. In return, participants receive a wealth of financial and operating guidelines including a direct comparison to other participating firms of the same size. This customized and valuable information is only available to fabricators that participate in the study.

"The MIA Report provides a scorecard that allows our company to improve in areas where we may not be doing as well as the industry as a whole," reports Dick Laliberte, Ripano Stoneworks Ltd and Stone World's 2006 Fabricator of the Year. "You can't buy this type of information anywhere else. And at $75.00 it is a tremendous value."

Paul Menninger, Capitol Granite, LLC and Stone World's 2008 Fabricator of the Year agrees, "The value of the MIA Performance Analysis Report to me & my organization at its basic level is two-fold; one, it quantifies what it is we do at all levels in ways we never dreamed of, particularly when addressing financial institutions. Two, it tracks my key performance indicators and anonymously compares them to other fabricators of similar size. The value created for the investment cannot be compared anywhere else."

As in previous years, MIA has contracted with Profit Planning Group, the well regarded association profitability and compensation analysis firm. Participants' proprietary financial data are kept strictly confidential. Only PPG employees see the data. Profit Planning Group has maintained an unblemished record of confidentiality for over 20 years of conducting benchmarking surveys.

The cost to participate in the survey is $75.00 for MIA members and $150.00 for non- members. There is no extra charge for the individualized comparative results or final reports for those companies participating in the study. If you have not received a survey and wish to participate, contact Mike Loflin at MIA (ph: 440 250-9222; email: mloflin@marble-institute.com.)

Non-participating MIA members may purchase a copy of the consolidated Performance Analysis Report for $295.00 ($495.00 non-members). It will be available at StonExpo 2011.

About the Marble Institute of America
For over 60 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.