MIA Hosts First Ever "Women In Stone" Event At Coverings 2014
Contact:
Marble Institute of America
(440) 250-9222
networking@marble-institute.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(MIA0077)
Cleveland, OH, May 13, 2014 — The Marble Institute of America (MIA) hosted the first gathering of its new Women in Stone group during Coverings 2014, held in Las Vegas, NV April 29 - May 2. This networking reception was sponsored by Polycor, while the overall initiative is also being supported by Blick Industries, Hanley Wood, OHM International, Rock of Ages, Polycor and TexaStone Quarries. The purpose of the Women in Stone group is to retain and advance women who have chosen a career in the stone industry, as well as to recruit new women into our industry. It will accomplish those goals by:
- Increasing the number of networking opportunities available to women,
- Expanding on existing educational offerings,
- Creating opportunities to serve on key industry committees,
- And more.
Co-chair Brie Pfannenbecker of Connecticut Stone Supplies, Inc. said, "The Women in Stone launch was a tremendous success! Out of all of the wonderful happenings at Coverings, the Women in Stone event is the one I have talked about the most since returning home."
Coldspring's Kathy Spanier discussed the long term effects of this effort, "This is an exciting initiative that has lots of positive energy and momentum to become a resource for women to broaden perspective (personal) through meaningful strategic connections at any level of their career so they can reach their full potential and accelerate or enhance their career growth."
Allyson Humphries of Walker Zanger may have said it the best, "There is beauty in a woman whose confidence comes from experience, a woman who knows she can fall & pick herself up. The quiet confidence of the over 60 women who attended the MIA-WIS Event was inspiring. I am so eager to keep up the momentum & engage other women in our industry."
The next face-to-face Women in Stone event is set for StonExpo East in Miami, FL on October 19, 2014. To learn more about this initiative, visit www.marble-institute.com/stone-professional/women-in-stone.
The event sponsor Patrick Perus (Polycor, Inc) with members of the WIS Steering Committee: Allyson Humphries (Walker Zanger), Brie Pfannenbecker (Connecticut Stone Supplies, Inc), Kathy Spanier (Coldspring), Kathleen Carle (J.C. Stone, Inc.), Tiffany Aryeh (Amalfi Stone & Masonry), and Kim Dumais (Miller Druck Specialty Contracting, Inc.). Not Pictured: Diane Bridges (Pacific Shore Stones) and Jennifer Sayles (TexaStone Quarries).
About the Marble Institute of America
Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has served as the authoritative source of information on standards of natural stone workmanship and practice and the application of natural stone products for over 70 years.
Membership in the association is worldwide and includes over 1,600 natural stone producers, exporters/importers, distributors/wholesalers, fabricators, finishers, installers, and industry suppliers committed to the highest standards of workmanship and ethics.
MIA offers an industry accreditation program for fabricators and installers, markets a range of technical publications and consumer pamphlets on natural stone, sponsors business and technical meetings and seminars on industry-related topics, provides educational programming for architects and construction specification professionals, and conducts the annual Pinnacle Awards competitions recognizing outstanding natural stone projects worldwide.
MIA is also a leading promoter of stone usage in the commercial and residential marketplaces, producing consumer education materials on the use of natural stone and its proper care and maintenance. More information can be found on the association’s website: http://www.marble-institute.com.
