CLEVELAND, OH -- Michael Twiss, CEO of MIA Accredited Commercial A Contractor, Columbia Stone, and MIA Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator, Natural Stone Designs -- both located in Tualatin, OR -- has been elected President of the Marble Institute of America (MIA). Twiss began his stone industry career in 1982 with the Blaesing Granite Co. after working six years in the heavy civil construction industry. 

Michael Twiss, CEO of MIA Accredited Commercial A Contractor, Columbia Stone, and MIA Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator, Natural Stone Designs -- both located in Tualatin, OR -- has been elected President of the Marble Institute of America (MIA).

He started out as project manager; eventually ascending to the role of Director of Business Development. In 1988, he started Columbia Stone, followed by Natural Stone Designs in 1991. He serves as the owner/Chief Executive Officer of each company. Twiss also holds Civil Engineering licenses in California and Washington State, and has been a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers since 1982.

At the same time of Twiss' election, Jonathan Zanger of Walker Zanger in Perth Amboy, NJ, was selected as Vice President of MIA; Tony Malisani of Malisani, Inc. in Great Falls, MT, as Secretary; and Dan Rea of Cold Spring Granite Co. in Cold Spring, MN, as Treasurer. The officers assumed office at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas, NV, during the MIA Annual Meeting.

MIA members also elected three new members to the association's Board of Directors. Claus F. Larsen of Dansk Marble & Granite Works Srl in Carrara, Italy, was chosen to represent Europe; Jon Lancto of MIA Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator, Surface Products, Inc. in Cornelius, NC, was selected to represent zone 3 (the Southeast); and Arik Grebelsky of A. Grebelsky & Son in Har-Tuv A Industrial Zone, Israel was selected to represent the Middle East and Asia. Brenda Edwards, TexaStone Quarries, was also appointed to serve the remaining two years of a vacated at-large position.