Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

The Selling Begins When the Customer Says No

Instructor: Sam Allman, Allman Consulting and Training

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Visual Merchandising 101: The Basics of Excellent Presentation

Instructor: Linda Cahan, Cahan & Company

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

What Everybody Needs to Know About Selling Stone

Instructor: Danny MacNair, Daltile & Stone

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

How to Introduce CEU Classes to Connect with the Design Community – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America

Instructors: Sarah Kelly, MKG Department; Vincent Moiso, Quarry Collection

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Embracing Sustainability through Certification in the Natural Stone Life-Cycle – Brought to you by the Natural Stone Council

Instructor: Jack Geibig, PE, Ecoform

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Grade Your Shop’s Performance and Change Its Future

Instructors: Robert Bromley, Park Industries; Jeff Brekhus, Brekhus Tile & Stone

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Ins and Outs of Waterproofing and Crack Isolation Membranes

Instructors: Steve Taylor, Custom Building Products; David deBear, Custom Building Products

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Installation Is Not a Dirty Word! – How to Sell the Value of a Well Installed Floor

Instructor: Tom Jennings, WFCA

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Come Together: Managing Multiple Generations

Instructor: Chris Ramey, Affluent Insights/The Home Trust

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Stores That Floor: Marketing to the Coveted Female Customer

Instructor: Christine Whittemore, Simple Marketing Now

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Beauty is More Than Skin Deep: What Designers Need to Know About Maintaining and Refinishing Wood Floors – Brought to you by the National Wood Flooring Association

Instructor: John Lessick, Apex Wood Floors

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

*Design Luncheon – Brought to you by Quick-Step

Instructor: Erinn Valencich, Designer and HGTV Host

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Introducing iPad Apps for the Design Community – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America

Instructor: Garen Distelhorst, Marble Institute of America

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

All Things Travertine

Instructors: Danny MacNair, Daltile & Stone; Rod Sigman, Custom Building Products

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The Essentials of Stone Maintenance and Restoration Forum

Instructors: Panelists: Brian Cardone, Dimensional Stone and Tile Designs; David Bonasera, ESP – Environmentally Safe Products and Procedures; Fred Hueston, PhD, Stone Forensics; Moderator: Ted McFadden, Sureshine Care and Restoration Services

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

From 18 to 80: Understanding, Appreciating and Selling to People of All Generations

Instructor: Linda Cahan, Cahan & Company

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Grout: Your Choice Really Matters

Instructor: Mike Micalizzi, Custom Building Products

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Implementing Safety in Your Stone Warehouse and Fabrication Shop

Instructors: Jim Nikolopoulos, Walker & Zanger and Panel

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Marketing Transition: Integrating Online Marketing into Traditional Marketing

Instructors: Michael Vogel, Creating Your Space; Tyler Levi, Levi’s 4 Floors; Scott D. Perron, Big Bob’s of America

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Six Elements of a Powerful Showroom

Instructors: Chris Ramey, Affluent Insights/The Home Trust; Kim Bernard, Walker & Zanger

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Kitchen and Bath – Directions and Designs

Instructor: Mark Woodman, Mark Woodman Design & Color

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

What Is Fueling Your Customer to Buy? – The Latest Research on Consumer Buying Habits

Instructor: Lisbeth Calandrino, Improving Human Performance

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Best Practices Forum: A Discussion with Successful Flooring Retailers

Instructors: Jeff Macco, Macco’s Floor Covering Center; David Snedeker, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Panel

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Countertop Installers Forum: Solutions to the Most Common Problems

Instructors: Dustin Braudway, Bluewater Surfaces; Tony Malisani, Malisani, Inc.; Buddy Ontra, Ontra Stone Concepts

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Design and Color Trends for 2013-2014 – Featuring Soft Surface Products

Instructor: Victoria Redshaw, Scarlet Opus Limited

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

All of the Essentials to Start, Build and Maintain a Successful Stone Care and Restoration Business

Instructor: Tim Connelly, San Diego Stone Care

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Installation Failures & Solutions: Hardwood

Instructor: Scott Avery, Modern Tech Floors

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Seven Secrets to Running a Profitable Stone Shop

Instructor: Mark Lauzon, FOCUS 3D

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Understanding Thin Tile Installations

Instructor: Neil McMurdie, PhD, MAPEI

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

What Every Retailer Can Learn From Apple^®

Instructor: James Dion, Dionco

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

The New Stone Documentary – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America

Instructor: Gary Distelhorst, Marble Institute of American

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Building Performance Trends and Best Practices with Natural Stone

Instructor: Stephanie Vierra, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Vierra Design & Education Services

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Carpet Fibers: New Technologies and Advancements You Should Know to Keep You Out of Trouble

Instructor: Lew Migliore, LGM and Associates

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Optimizing Your Fabrication Shop

Instructor: Miles Crowe, Crowe Custom Countertops

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Challenges of Installing Large Format Porcelain Tile and Stone

Instructor: Michael Granatowski, MAPEI

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

New Method and New Requirements for Coefficient of Friction for Ceramic Tile – DCOF AcuTest^SM

Instructor: Eric Astrachan, Tile Council of North America

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

*Designer Day Luncheon with John Gidding

Instructor: John Gidding, Designer and Host of HGTV’s “CURB APPEAL: THE BLOCK”

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Tech Tips: Dealing with Freeze/Thaw and Climate Change – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America

Instructor: Chuck Muehlbauer, Marble Institute of American

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Surface Stories – International Trends

Instructor: Mark Woodman, Mark Woodman Design & Color

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Do You Really Want this Stone Restoration Job? – Recognize “Hidden” Problems Before it’s Too Late

Instructors: David Bonasera, ESP – Environmentally Safe Products and Procedures; Greg Mowat, Forensic Tile Consultants

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Installation Failures & Solutions: Tile

Instructor: Mike Micalizzi, Custom Building Products

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Installers: Employee vs. Subcontractor

Instructors: Jeff Macco, Macco’s Floor Covering Center; Tom Jennings, WFCA; Jeffrey W. King, Crowell & Moring

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Keys to Effective Time Management – Surviving in a 24/7 World

Instructor: Caren McCabe, McCabe Training & Consulting

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Stone Fabrication – The Art of Setting Customer Expectations

Instructors: John Kilfoyle, United Marble Fabricators; Miles Crowe, Crowe Custom Countertops

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Building Your Marketing Tool Kit

Instructor: Marty Gould, Focalize Consulting

Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Case Studies in Natural Stone Restoration and Maintenance

Instructors: Rawi Tabbah, International Stoneworks; Joseph Salvo, Miracle Sealants Company

Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Case Studies: Sustainable Design Projects with Natural Stone

Instructor: Rodney Harvey, Curtain Wall Design and Consulting

Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Adhering to Tomorrow’s Concrete Surfaces: Admixtures, Moisture and High Level Fly Ash

Instructors: Howard Kanara, CTL Group; Bruce Burton, Custom Building Products

Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Strategy Shift: Fast Forward

Instructor: Beverly Koehn, Beverly Koehn & Associates

Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Advanced Branding and Selling Skills for the Stone Fabricator

Instructors: Joey Marcella, Mario & Stone; Mark Lauzon, FOCUS 3D

Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Performance and Sustainability: The Latest in Tile Industry Product Specifications

Instructor: Bill Griese, Tile Council of North America