MIA Revises and Reinvents Website Promising a Totally New Online Experience for Members and Visitors

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(MIA0019)

CLEVELAND, OH, January 17, 2012 — The MIA opened the new year by debuting a new website with a fresh, clean look, better navigation tools, and several new integration resources. Initial feedback has been extremely positive with users commenting on the site's ease of use and crisp look.

"We couldn't ignore the fact that the MIA site receives over 1.25 million hits monthly with approximately 2/3 of the unique visitors coming from outside the stone industry," shared MIA's Executive Vice President, Gary Distelhorst. He added, "We made sure that consumers and design professionals had direct portals to the information they needed, especially how to find a qualified MIA stone professional."

While meeting the needs of potential stone customers, the MIA also focused on vastly expanding the resources available for MIA member firms. MIA members now have access to:

• update their personal contact information;
• register for upcoming events online;
• access new content in the "Member's only" area; and,
• search the MIA Membership Directory and more.

The ability to update personal contact information also includes access to pay outstanding invoices, view past bookstore receipts, and much more.

MIA's Membership Relations Manager, Jeff Handley added, "we now truly offer our members 24/7 access to information that could only previously be accessed by contacting a member of the MIA staff. In addition, members will find more resources in the 'member's only' area."

The MIA has also added a blog to their informational offerings. Visit www.stonedimensionsblog.com for the latest news from the MIA and the around the stone industry. MIA staff has been adding content several times a week and commenters from around the internet are already engaging in conversation.

Many more features are planned for introduction in 2012!

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.