Quarriers

Natural stone quarries are a critical segment of MIA membership and consequently the benefits provided to quarries are plentiful. The MIA represents the entire natural stone supply chain (from the quarries to maintenance) — which means it is highly likely that many of your customers are MIA members too. When you review the list of benefits showcased below, remember your membership supports services provided to your customers (e.g. fabricators, installers, restoration professionals, etc.), as well as to your firm.

As a member, we thank you for your support! The MIA is the largest trade association in the world representing the dimension stone industry, and for over 65 years, it has been a leader in providing advocacy, networking, marketing/publicity, information/education, professionalism and stone promotion.
Massoquoi Marble Quarry by Polycor. A division of Polycor is an MIA charter member since 1944.

Top Quarrier Benefits...

Access, networking, technical support, promotion, discounts, referrals, money savings business services, and supporting the industry are among the top benefits enjoyed by quarrying members.

If you have any questions about MIA member benefits, feel free to contact our member services team at membership@marble-institute.com or 440-250-9222.

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Building a Better Industry

MIA membership is powerful. It affords the industry the power to collectively address issues that no one company can tackle on their own. Members subscribe to a code of ethics, proudly display the member logo as the symbol of trust and authority in the natural stone industry, and look to MIA membership as a way to give back to the industry. The natural stone industry needs a strong association to help it to fully succeed and grow. Member firms build a better industry through the MIA.


Join your industry colleagues in building a better industry.

Supporting Safety Initiatives

Several stone distributor members are actively engaged in several MIA safety committees to develop training resources for their employees and their fabricator customers. We invite you to join your distributing colleagues in support of this very important initiative. In 2011 the MIA will be introducing both English and Spanish versions of the "Safe Stone Slab Handling II" video.

"This is the most comprehensive slab safety program of all time. The amount of effort and dedication that went into this initiative should be commended with the highest honor. This is a wakeup call for the stone industry and this program should be the foundation in every slab handling institution around the world." — Jim Nikolopoulos, Walker Zanger

"We care about our customers, we care about our customers' customer. A safe and healthy industry is good for all of us. This video stresses the importance of safety for everyone's sake." — Gian Luca Fiori, Marble and Granite Inc.

The MIA has several opportunities for quarrying members to get involved in ongoing safety initiatives.
New slab handling video developed and funded by nine stone distributors for the industry.

StonExpo Discounts

MIA members receive preferred rates every year for exhibiting at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas allowing them to pay so much less for booth space that MIA membership typically pays for itself in StonExpo discounts alone.

  • 10'x10' booth — save $250
  • 10'x20' booth — save $500
  • 10'x30' booth — save $750
  • 10'x40' or 20'x20' booth — save $800 (more than annual MIA membership dues!)

*Continuing exhibitors save $2.50 per square foot. If you are exploring a first time exhibition at StonExpo your member savings are actually greater.

StonExpo will co-locate with SURFACES, the #1 floor covering industry event in North America, on January 25-27, 2011. Learn more.
Meshoppen Stone saved $500 on their StonExpo Marmomacc Americas exhibition in 2011.

MIA members SAVE $250 for each 10'x10' booth — the savings for many distributor members exceeds their annual dues.

Money Saving Business Services

  1. Collections
    Vericore offers MIA members excellent service and reporting while assisting them in the collections process and related services. Learn more.

  2. Other Business Programs
    MIA also offers discounts within the USA on package shipping and palletized freight, credit card processing services, employment practice liability insurance, office supplies and print services, utility audit, and website optimization. Learn more.
MIA has partnered with VeriCore to gain members worldwide favorable rates and excellent customer care on collections and related service needs.

Access to MIA Members

As part of the MIA "community," you will stay informed, explore new markets, and showcase your business to other MIA members worldwide. Many quarries utilize the MIA newsletter, technical publications, and industry reports to stay informed. Learn more.

Networking

To compliment access to MIA members, MIA provides quarries with a number of networking opportunities to connect with customers. MIA holds many face-to-face events at several industry trade shows and regional educational seminars around the country. The online membership directory, social media sites, and other electronic communication tools connect distributor members with buyer members.
An MIA Quarry Tour.

CEU Education

Quarrying members can also utilize the MIA's education program to network with key stone industry customers. Quarries that connect with members of the architectural and design communities, find value in the MIA's CEU (continuing education units) program. Learn more.
MIA Members, Lundhs AS and Vermont Quarries, provide CEU programs as part of the MIA's speaker's bureau.

 
Vermont Verde Antique sponsored the stone of the year in 2009

Sponsorships and Advertising — Reach Professionals and Consumers

Many quarrying members showcase their company through advertising and/or sponsoring key industry events. Advertising in the newsletter, banner ads, industry events, and awards programs are just a few of these promotion efforts. The Stone of The Year sponsorship is featured on the annual member directory, certificate, and the MIA website. It is a great way to market your stone to the entire industry.

Consider the MIA website as a conduit to expanding your brand image. When you support an industry program, your company logo is always showcased. Learn more.

Supporting Quarry Customers


Mont Granite, a Cleveland-based distributor, recently sponsored an OSHA-guided tour of local fabrication shops to showcase safety best-practices for their customers.

The MIA supports many of your customers. Here are some examples:

  1. Wholesale Stone Distributors
    Stone Distributors are the second largest customer group served by MIA membership. Many enjoy hosting MIA education events that bring customers and specifiers in to their showrooms.

  2. Fabricators/Installers
    Fabricators make up the largest customer group served by distributor members. The MIA has many programs to support fabricator/installers including the coveted accreditation program, awards programs, education, training, financial benchmarking surveys, safety programs, and much more. Many quarries find ways to support these initiatives simply because they are critical to the success of their customers. Ask how you can support these programs.

  3. Others
    MIA members also include equipment/tooling/chemical suppliers, restoration/maintenance professionals, and importer/exporters. MIA membership helps quarries connect with these industry segments too.


Sharing Technical Expertise

Many quarries lend their technical expertise on MIA technical committees to assist with writing MIA Technical Bulletins. These bulletins provide an ongoing educational resource to MIA members and the design community at large. Upcoming topics vary, covering such subjects as joint sealant design use, air barriers, insulation, crack isolation products, portland cement, flashing designs, etc. They include basic information and will clarify and detail these sometimes troublesome and confusing subjects.

Other volunteer opportunities are available. Learn more.