Marble Institute of America: Press Room

Ken Krebs Elected President of the Marble Institute of America

Vice President of OHM International of Nashville, Tennessee Hopes to Complete Natural Stone Association's Accreditation Program and To Promote Natural Stone to Users

CLEVELAND, OH., November 2, 2005— At its annual meeting October 19-21 in Las Vegas, the Marble Institute of America, Inc. (MIA) elected Ken Krebs of Nashville, Tennessee as its 2006 President. Krebs has served on the MIA Board for several years and was Vice President in 2005.

"I look forward to serving in this important new role and working with MIA's Board and members to continue to build MIA's leadership in the areas of education, technical advice and promotion of the natural stone industry," stated Krebs. "Under Scott Lardner's excellent leadership, MIA has grown into a much more visible and effective organization with over 1,400 members around the world, and I look forward to continuing the good work."

Krebs is Vice President of OHM International in Nashville. OHM is a major distributor of natural stone in the Eastern U.S. He has also owned a stone fabrication and installation company. During his several years as a fabricator/installer in the natural stone industry, Krebs worked on the restoration of the Cheekwood Mansion project and several new hotel and high-rise office buildings. As a stone distributor, he is currently concentrating on the burgeoning residential and light commercial market. Krebs plans to focus on two areas that he believes are "absolutely required within our industry" - fabricator accreditation and industry promotion of the value of natural stone to various users. "Promoting proper fabrication and installation practices through an accreditation program will do more for the long-term growth of both our association and the overall industry than any other program we might develop," he noted. "In addition, the need to tell the story of natural stone in an environment where others are confusing users is overdue."

Krebs resides in Nashville with his wife Paulette and their son. Krebs' one-year term as MIA President will expire at next year's annual meeting in October.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, MIA is the leading resource for information and education for the natural stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors.

The association's mission is to promote the use of natural stone and be the authoritative source of information on standards of workmanship and practice and suitable application of stone products. It publishes a monthly newsletter, markets a range of technical and consumer publications 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 and competition recognizing outstanding natural stone projects worldwide and the Rocky Advertising Awards competition recognizing outstanding industry advertising.

About the Marble Institute of America
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2004, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) is the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural 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