FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cleveland, OH, October 30, 2008 — The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has announced the winners of its prestigious 2008 Pinnacle Awards competition as well as the winner of the first Grande Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Marmomacc.

A spectacular residential home spa in Winter Park, Florida, submitted by Walker Zanger of Charlotte, North Carolina captured the first Grande Pinnacle Award. The award was presented to Leon Zanger by Mauro Albano, manager of the Marmomacc Trade Show. The project, known as NeMo (New Modern), captured the attention of the judges with its natural materials, neutral colors, a water feature and an abundance of light combined to create a harmonious, tranquil and resort-like master bathroom/spa suite.

Walker Zanger received a magnificently crafted Grande Pinnacle Award designed by Tobia Scarpa of Venice, Italy, who is an award-winning architect, designer and restoration specialist whose designs have been displayed in some of the world’s premier museums. In addition to the award, Walker Zanger also received an all-expense paid trip to Marmomacc 2009 in Verona, Italy.

The Pinnacle Awards honor projects that demonstrate exceptional beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship in the use of granite, marble travertine, limestone, and other natural stones. The Pinnacle Awards were presented at the MIA Annual Awards Luncheon at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas on October 17, 2008.

The 2008 Pinnacle Award winners are:

Grande Pinnacle Award and Residential Interior/Exterior Award of Excellence were presented to Walker Zanger of Charlotte, North Carolina for Nemo (New Modern) in Winter Park, Florida.

Commercial Exterior Award of Excellence was presented to Dee Brown, Inc. of Garland, Texas for George A. Purefoy Municipal Center in Frisco, Texas.

Commercial Exterior Award of Excellence was presented to Titan Stone of Fort Lauderdale, Florida for Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.

Commercial Interior Award of Excellence was presented to Rugo Stone of Lorton, Virginia for 2101 L Street in Washington, D.C.

Renovation/Restoration Award of Excellence was presented to Dee Brown of Garland, Texas for Old Red Courthouse Clock Tower in Dallas, Texas.

A special Pinnacle Award for Artistry and Technology was presented to two MIA member companies Campolonghi Italia SrL of Massa, Italy and Dee Brown, Inc. of Garland, Texas for "Illumination" Solar Light Sculptures in Culver City, California.

An Award of Merit in the Residential Interior/Exterior category was presented to Walker Zanger of New York, New York for 25 Bond Street in New York, New York.

An Award of Merit in the Commercial Exterior was presented to Marble World, S.A. de C.V. of Garza Garcia, NL, Mexico for Club Campestre Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico.

An Award of Merit in the Renovation/Restoration category was presented to KEPCO+ of Salt Lake City, Utah for the Utah State Capitol Podium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Serving as judges for the competition were the following: Stan Haas, Nelsen Partners, Austin, Texas; Christian Pongratz, Pongratz Perbellini Architects, Verona, Italy; Jack Seiders, Architectural Granite & Marble, Inc., Austin, Texas and MIA past president; and Chuck Muehlbauer, MIA technical director.

To view a copy of the 2008 Pinnacle Awards brochure which depicts the winning entries, or to see the actual awards presentation please go to http://www.marble-institute.com/awards.

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.

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