Marble Institute of America: Press Room

MIA Announces the New Grande Pinnacle Award, Sponsored by Marmomacc

CLEVELAND, OH, FEBRUARY 7, 2008 — The Marble Institute of America is pleased to announce the addition of a new award for 2008. The prestigious Pinnacle Awards competition, which honors the best in genuine stone projects and craftsmanship from around the world, will add a Grande Pinnacle Award which will be awarded to the best winning entry across all categories.

The sponsor of the Grande Pinnacle Award is Marmomacc, of Verona, Italy, the world's largest natural stone show. Designers at Marmomacc are also designing and creating a new and beautiful Grande Pinnacle Award. In addition to the actual award, the winner is also entitled to one round-trip economy air fare, four night hotel stay, meals and registration to Marmomacc 2009, a show that is held annually in Verona, Italy. Additional perks, such as an invitation to the Gala Dinner at the close of Marmomacc, will also be part of the winner's package.

"We are extremely excited that Marmomacc is sponsoring the Grande Pinnacle Award for the next three years," said Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of the Marble Institute of America. "This truly is a 'pinnacle' for an award program that has grown in stature each year."

The Pinnacle Awards are open to all MIA members. Project teams must include at least one MIA member company. All submitted projects must comply with standards as defined in MIA's Dimension Stone Design Manual and completed within the last three years (2005-2008). Multiple entries are encouraged and accepted.

Call for Entries for the Pinnacle Awards competition will be issued in the April MIA Cutting Edge Newsletter and the deadline for entries will be July 10, 2008.

Winners of the Pinnacle Awards and the Grande Pinnacle Award will be announced at StonExpo 2008 in Las Vegas at the MIA Awards Luncheon on Friday, October 17.

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.

For more information, contact MIA at (440) 250-9222, e-mail MIAinfo@marble-institute.com, or visit www.marble-institute.com.

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Helen Distelhorst
Marble Institute of America
(440) 250-9222
hdistelhorst@marble-institute.com

Bill Levy
Bill Levy Communications
(216) 514-9922
bill.levy@levymg.com