Marble Institute of America: Press Room

MARBLE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 2008 REGIONAL SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Cleveland, OH., October 30, 2007 — A broad educational program featuring 16 extensive one- and two-day seminars across the United States and 5 webinars will be presented by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), the U.S. leader in providing training programs for the natural stone industry.

Initiated in 2005, MIA's Education on Location series has drawn hundreds of MIA members and non-members alike.

Gary Distelhorst, MIA executive vice president, stated that, "During the last three years, we have refined our offerings and added new destinations. In the coming year, we will continue these efforts and add new technology by offering webinars for the first time." He added, "In response to the increased interest in the MIA Accreditation program, we will offer two 1-day preparation courses in San Diego and Atlanta. The Countertop & Floor Repair classes, which sold out last year, are scheduled for Knoxville and San Francisco next year. Many of our 1-day courses will be offered for only $99.00."

In addition to the webinars, the 2008 schedule includes 4 OSHA Stone Facility Safety seminars, one of which kicks off the season in Miami on January 24th. These seminars sold out in 06 & 07. The popular Quarry Tours and More will visit several locations in Texas next year.

The following is the 2008 schedule (please consult MIA website for pricing and registration):

OSHA / Stone Shop Safety Seminar

January 24, 2008 — Miami, FL
March 11, 2008 — Los Angeles, CA
March 13, 2008 — San Diego, CA
April 17, 2008 — Boston, MA

Countertop Fabrication & Installation Essentials

June 11-12, 2008 — Kansas City, MO

Accreditation for Fabricators Prep Course

March 14, 2008 — San Diego, CA
June 19, 2008 — Atlanta, GA

Advanced Countertop Sales, Production & Fabrication Shop Tours

February 13-14, 2008 — Raleigh, NC
July 16-17, 2008 — Oakland, NJ

Quarry Tours & More — Destination Texas!

March 19-20, 2008 — Austin, TX

Using Natural Stone in Commercial Projects

December 6, 2007 — Chicago, IL
December 4, 2008 — Dallas, TX

Countertop & Floor Repair

May 20-21, 2008 — Knoxville, TN
August 13-14, 2008 — San Leandro, CA

3rd Annual Leadership Workshop

April 28, 2008 — Orlando, FL

Selling, Marketing, & Branding Natural Stone

May 20-21, 2008 — Baltimore, MD

Selling vs. Hoping: Compelling Alternatives to "The Pitch"

June 18, 2008 — Atlanta, GA

Webinar Series — Consult MIA Website for pricing and registration information. Take advantage of the live events:

February 6, 2008
March 5, 2008
April 2, 2008
August 6, 2008,
December 10, 2008
or podcast them at a later date!

The following companies proudly serve as national sponsors in support of this important industry program: GranQuartz (Tucker, GA), Water Treatment Technologies (Hampton, NH), Park Industries (St. Cloud, MN), Aqua Mix (Corona, CA), VIC International (Knoxville, TN), Alpha Professional Tools (Oakland, NJ), Marmo Machinery USA (Southfield, MI), Laser Products (Romeoville, IL), ETemplate Systems (Raleigh, NC) and Schechner Lifson Corporation (Summit, NJ).

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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