The Marble Institute of America, Inc. (MIA) announced that Jimmy Ternent, Vice President of Construction at Rugo Stone LLC in Lorton, VA, is the 2011 recipient of the MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year.

A six-member panel of stone industry veterans selected Ternent from a pool of nominees in a competition sponsored by the leading industry supplier, Campolonghi Italia. The award, a beautifully crafted and unique plaque, was presented to Brett Rugo on behalf of Jimmy Ternent at the MIA Annual Awards Luncheon during StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas.

In 1971, Ternent joined the natural stone industry as a laborer. By 1992, he had progressed to the position of mason foreman while employed with Ron Bratti Associates. From 1992 to 1996, he served as superintendant with Harmon Contracting, and in 1996 he joined Rugo Stone in Lorton as Vice President of Construction and Corporate Officer, where he continues to serve the stone industry today.

“I had the good fortune to have started in this field at a very young age, and I have come into contact with over 1,000 workers and supervisors in the last 30 years,” said Rugo. “Jim Ternent is without question the finest marble mason and supervisor I have ever met. Starting with Jim’s layout skills, combined with his ability to read and proof drawings, he was like no one I had ever met on a job. Jim personally installed many of the most complex and precious stone projects we have contracted, and his stone setting ability is excellent.”

The Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award is an annual MIA competition to honor the men and women who truly reflect the best of the natural stone industry and bring stone to life through love of the material, craftsmanship and attention to detail.