“We were extremely pleased by the number of participants in this year’s program who completed the eight hours required to receive the Masters Certification,” commented  Jennifer Hughes, Conference Manager, SURFACES and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. “This reconfirmed for us that our attendees are committed to receiving superior quality education and value what our program brings to their level of knowledge in the industry.”

Attendees could receive a Masters Certificate in any of the offered tracks: Business, Marketing, Sales, Stone Fabrication/Installation, Flooring Installation, Building Design and Trends, Sustainability, and Care/Maintenance/Restoration.

SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2013will be held January 29-31 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Exhibits will be open Tuesday – Thursday and the Education Program opens Monday, January 28 and goes through Thursday. For more information on SURFACES visit www.Surfaces.com and www.Stonexpo.com, find them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter at @Surfaces_Show and @Stonexpo.

The official sponsor of SURFACES is the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the floor covering industry's largest advocacy organization representing floor covering retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America. The WFCA is a recognized leader in marketing research, industry certification programs, and operates the premier consumer flooring web site, providing unbiased information about every type of floor covering and connecting customers to members’ retail stores. The WFCA also influences public policy affecting the floor covering industry and consumers. For more information about the WFCA, visit their website.

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas’ Official Sponsors are the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Natural Stone Council. The mission of the MIA is to promote the use of natural stone and be the world's most authoritative natural stone information resource. Membership in the association is worldwide and includes over 2,000 natural stone producers, exporters/importers, distributors/wholesalers, fabricators, finishers, installers, and industry suppliers—all committed to the highest standards of workmanship and ethics.

The Natural Stone Council, home of the Genuine Stone® brand, is the leader in the stone industry that represents the major associations who are committed to promotion and education of the industry and general public on the value and benefits of natural stone. Member associations include: Allied Stone Industries, American Monument Association, Building Stone Institute, Canadian Stone Association, Elberton Granite Association, Marble Institute of America, National Building Granite Quarries Association, National Granite Manufacturers Association and Natural Stone Alliance.

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2013 official endorsers are Marmomacc, Allied Stone Industries and The Concrete Countertop Institute.