Marble Institute of America: Press Room

Contacts:
Helen Distelhorst Marble Institute of America (440) 250-9222 hdistelhorst@marble-institute.com	Bill Levy Bill Levy Communications (216) 861-6778 bill.levy@levymg.com

BERNARD J. POLAK RECEIVES MIA AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

CLEVELAND, OH, November 8, 2006— Bernard (Bernie) J. Polak, a veteran of more than 50 years in the natural stone business, has been awarded the 2006 Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Marble Institute of America (MIA).

Polak will accept the award at the annual MIA Awards Luncheon while in attendance at StonExpo, the MIA sponsored stone industry trade show on November 10, 2006.

Bernie Polak started in the stone industry in 1955 as a 20 year old marble finisher. Over the years, Polak says there is almost nothing involving marble and granite that he has not done.

In 1977, when the owner of the Denver Mantle and Tile Company, his long time employer, decided to retire, Polak took over the reigns as its proprietor and renamed the firm, the Denver Marble Company. Polak has worked with architects, designers, and contractors to create some of Denver?s most memorable structures, including the Denver Airport, the Denver Art Museum, the United Bank Building, and many others. The company is also renowned for its residential work in the resort areas of Colorado, and high-end residential projects in Wyoming, Montana, and Ohio.

Polak and Denver Marble joined MIA in 1982 and 10 years later became its president. Polak generously shared his love and knowledge of the stone business with many others, including several persons who now operate their own successful stone businesses. His sons, Mark, Greg, and Scott are now involved in the Denver Marble Company.

Polak is the fourth recipient of the Migliore Award, established in honor of the late Vincent R. Migliore, MIA's long time technical director. Migliore received the award posthumously in 2003. The 2004 award went to Joe Kapcheck of J. Kapcheck and Company, and Malcolm Cohen of Domestic Marble and Miller Druck Specialty Contracting of New York received the award last year.

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.