MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA -- On June 21, 2012, theToronto Stone Summit will be hosted byMS Internationalin Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The morning program includes the session "Making the Transition from Residential Countertops to Light Construction/Common Mistakes Made," and it will be led by Mike Picco of Picco Engineering.

Picco is a professional engineer with more than 20 years experience, and his firm focuses on two main areas of expertise -- natural stone cladding and other miscellaneous structural engineering.

In the natural stone sector, experience includes stone sourcing and selection, consulting, manufacturing, installation and testing, as well as the design and detailing of stone anchors and stone shop drawings. Picco is a frequent speaker on the subject of stone cladding and anchoring, and he has given seminars to various associations and events, including the Terrazzo Tile and Marble Association Trade School, the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute, StonExpo and Marmomacc in Verona, Italy.

The morning session will also include an open Fabricator Forum, and the afternoon program, "Marketing your Company in Today's Business Environment" will be presented by Marty Gould of Focalize Now. This session will showcase:

  • Positioning your company online so it dominates Google searches
  • Getting your advertising directly to consumers who are ready to buy
  • Streamlining your marketing and advertising efforts with proven solutions
  • Discussions about brand identity

Gould has been focalizing businesses and organizations for more than 20 years. His client list over the years includes some of America's most well-known brands, including AC Delco, Pepsi-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, Lennox Industries and the Professional Bowlers Tour. In the stone industry he has led seminars for StonExpo, Coverings and the Marble Institute of America.

For more information, visit www.stoneindustryeducation.com