Coverings 2016, the largest global tile and stone exhibition in North America, is scheduled from April 18 to 21 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. After experiencing double-digit growth last year, Coverings — now in its 27th year — intends to reach even larger attendance numbers at this year’s event.
Held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, last year’s edition of the show drew in its largest crowd since 2009, with approximately 23,000 attendees from more than 40 countries. It showed a 10% growth over the previous year. With the Chicago venue spanning 420,000 square feet, show organizers only expect attendance to flourish, with an estimated 1,100 exhibitors and more than 75 specialized training and educations session offered.
“We’re thrilled to bring Coverings to Chicago in 2016,” said Karin Fendrich, Coverings Show Director. “We’re looking forward to sharing the tile and stone resources that Coverings provides designers, architects, contractors, installers, fabricators, retailers and distributors alike. The Chicago market has a vibrant architecture and design community, and we are excited to play an active role there in the year ahead.”
This year, Coverings has partnered with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Mosaic School to develop programs that use tile as a medium for creative design. “Partnerships with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Mosaic School not only allow Coverings to support the dynamic creative landscape in Chicago, but also provide opportunities for Coverings attendees to think about tile and stone materials in unexpected ways,” said Fendrich. “These programs challenge both future and current tile and stone industry professionals to truly understand just what these materials are capable of producing for design projects and how their qualities are best utilized from a technical standpoint.”
Coverings will include Rock Stars, the emerging leaders program, Installation and Design Awards (CID), Fabricators Forum and much more.
The CID Awards honor the most superior designs and installation of tile and stone. Open to architects, designers, builders, contractors, distributors, retailers and installers, the CID Awards celebrate creativity and technical prowess in the use of tile and stone in residential, commercial, international and sustainable projects.
Sponsored by TileLetter and Contemporary Stone & Tile Design, Stone World’s sister publication, winning projects will be announced during the CID Awards & Opening Night Celebration, which will take place on the first night of the show, April 18. The free event, which was developed last year, will include a presentation of the winners — who must be present to accept their awards, otherwise the projects will be disqualified and new winners will be awarded, with the exception of international projects — along with a live showcase of the projects and a cocktail reception, which will embrace a special “Taste of Chicago” theme.
In addition to the exhibition and show floor activities, Coverings 2016 will include an extensive educational program, featuring more than 70 seminars. The following is just some of the many sessions being offered. For a complete list of all educational programs, go to coverings.com.
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The Italian Trade Agency pavilion at Coverings
Stone-specific and related seminars at Coverings 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Restoration and Maintenance Standards - 2016 Updates to the Dimension Stone Design Manual
Speaker: Ted McFadden, Sureshine Care and Restoration Services
Location: S103ABC
MIA recently updated its Dimension Stone Design Manual to include a new chapter on restoration and maintenance. Learn best practices for diagnostics, repairs, restorative processes and maintenance from top committee members. Leave with a guide to dealing with the toughest restoration problems and a network of people who provide solutions.
Monday, April 18, 2016
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
ANSI Dynamic Coefficient of Friction Test for Natural Stone Surfaces
Speaker: Chuck Muehlbauer, Marble Institute of America
Location: S103D
In our litigious society, nothing in the stone industry carries the level of liability as public walking surfaces. With the 2014 withdrawal of test method ASTM C1028, stone suppliers and specifiers do not have a test method available to document the safety of their surfaces. The MIA technical department has recently completed a comprehensive study using the ANSI A137 DCOF test method, which was written for ceramic products. The results are encouraging, suggesting that this test method may be equally applicable to stone products. Attend this session to learn how the issue of slip/fall liabilities could be addressed by adoption of this test method.
Monday, April 18, 2016
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Natural Stone Characteristics: Protection, Maintenance & Restoration
Speaker: Joseph Salvo, Miracle Sealants Company
Location: S103D
This one-hour seminar provides a working knowledge of where natural stone comes from, how it is formed, how it is extracted and how it is processed. Attendees will learn techniques for protecting, maintaining and restoring different types of natural stone in various applications. Knowing the key characteristics of various stone types will help members of the design community properly specify natural stone and understand the care procedures associated with maintaining its beauty and functionality over time.
Monday, April 18, 2016
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
How to Maximize your Online Marketing Presence
Speakers: Lisbeth Calandrino, Fabulous Floors Magazine; Irene Williams, Msg2Mkt, LLC
Location: S103ABC
No matter how hard you try, it’s difficult to keep up with today’s digital marketing strategies. In the current business environment, everyone looking to grow businesses must be educated on using online tools. If you don’t, you’re leaving money on the table. The Internet can help you attract new customers and stay in touch with your present ones. This doesn’t mean you should throw out direct mail strategies or traditional advertising. In fact, they can combine with online strategies for maximum success. This workshop will provide case studies and ideas to enhance online presence and traditional tactics to be successful business owners.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
State of the Stone Industry — Promotion, Safety and More
Moderator: Jim Hieb, Marble Institute of America
Speakers: David Castellucci, Kenneth Castellucci & Associates, Inc.; John Lancto, Surface Products; Dan Rea, Coldspring; Robert Zavagno, Cleveland Marble Mosaic Company
Location: S103ABC
Several major projects have been undertaken in the stone industry. Learn first-hand how industry leaders and peers are addressing matters ranging from government regulation, competing product challenges and forecasting market growth. Don’t arrive expecting a PowerPoint presentation as this session is entirely focused on great discussion and responding to your questions.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Exterior Wall Cladding: Making the Transition from Interior to Exteriors
Speaker: Michael Picco, PICCO Engineering
Location: S103D
When the market for stone countertops was growing rapidly, many exterior stone contractors successfully diversified in creating an interior stone division within their corporations to complement their existing exterior stone facade businesses. Currently, the waning interior market is luring many interior contractors to do the reverse and diversify into the exterior cladding sector of the stone industry. While a few have been successful, many have had disastrous results as they embarked into a business arena for which they were inadequately prepared, unexperienced and poorly qualified. This session will explain the basic varieties of exterior cladding systems and the required resume of minimum skills and experience that should be secured before venturing into each variety of work. This discussion is not intended to frighten or discourage the contractor from pursuing this sector, but rather to prevent causing harm to oneself by venturing into an unknown world without the resources needed for survival.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Installation Forum - Commercial and Institutional
Moderator: David Castellucci, Kenneth Castellucci & Associates, Inc.
Speaker(s): Bernie Van Etten, Murphy Marble Co.; Peter Weis, W.R. Weis Company, Inc.; Robert Zavagno, Cleveland Marble Mosaic Company
Location: S104
This open forum for installation professionals is an excellent opportunity to discuss with your installer colleagues many of the challenges involved in commercial and institutional installations. Hear from some of the top installation companies as we discuss installation methods, equipment needs and materials. Come prepared to share ideas and discuss opportunities and challenges that you face every day. All attendees are encouraged to participate by presenting a problem or sharing a solution.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Attracting More Designers to Your Showroom — How to Deliver CEU Courses
Speaker: Sarah Gregg, Marble Institute of America
Location: S103ABC
Want to expand your outreach to architects and interior designers? Have you ever had difficulty getting an appointment at a large firm in your area? Consider providing CEUs (continuing education units) to the design community. This session will showcase how the CEU program works and how to position your company as the leading expert on natural stone in your marketplace. We’ll also explore how the various CEU programs work (AIA, ASID, IDC, IDEC, IIDA, NKBA and others) and how to get started giving presentations. This ‘how-to’ explanation will help you get started down the CEU provider path.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Future of Hospitality Design
Speaker: Andrew Fay, The Gettys Group
Locations: S100A
The Gettys Group looks at global trends and the impact design has on the guest experience, including how culture affects design and the importance of storytelling. Explore how the use of tile and stone can be featured to express highly individualized, branded design “stories.”
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fabricator Roundtable: Setting Customer Expectations
Speaker: G.K. Naquin, Stone Interiors
Location: Appreciation Lounge - Booth 4448
TBD
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Perspectives in Benchmarking
Speakers: Duane Naquin, Stone Interiors East; Eric Tryon, Premier Surfaces
Location: S104
One of the most important aspects to running a successful business is understanding what metrics are important to measure and how to measure your company against competition. This session will define business benchmarking and discuss what metrics should be measured to ensure a company’s success. The session will also discuss resources for finding industry benchmarks so a company can better measure their metrics against others in the industry.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Understanding Lippage Guidelines for Ceramic and Natural Stone Tile Installations
Location: S103D
Proper substrate preparation and careful planning are more important than ever in tile and stone installations, due to increased use of large formats, minimal grout widths, and modular patterns. It is necessary to understand variable allowances in both workmanship and manufacturing standards. This session will explain the lippage guidelines standard, and will cover how to calculate for acceptable tolerances - an important topic for all tile industry professionals.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Safety in your Shop and Silica Regulations Impacting your Employees
Moderator: G.K. Naquin, Stone Interiors
Speakers: Jonathan Mitnick, CCS Stone; Karen Rothenberg, Natural Stone Motif
Location: S104
How is the stone industry addressing the proposed OSHA silica rule change? What are leading fabricators doing NOW to reduce silica exposure for their employees? What are the real costs associated with making your shop safer? These and a host of additional questions will be addressed by a panel of fabricators. Make sure you are doing all you can to address silica safety in your facility.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Not Just Granite Any More — Defining Countertop Materials Available in Today’s Market
Moderator: G.K. Naquin, Stone Interiors
Speakers: Duane Naquin, Stone Interiors East; Buddy Ontra, Ontra Stone Concepts
Location: S104
What countertop materials are fabricators using today? Learn how fabricators are adapting their tooling and material handling practices to adjust to the changing countertop market. Whether the products are natural stone, quartz or other manmade materials, learn what current and future products customers demand. Explore these and other topics with a panel of industry leaders.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Managing a Successful Family Business Forum
Moderator: Tony Malisani, Malisani, Inc.
Speakers: Sandya Dandamudi, GI Stone; Puji Pinnamaneni, GI Stone; Bernie Van Etten, Murphy Marble Co.; Michael Van Etten, Murphy Marble Co.
Location: S104
Working in a family business can be a challenge. Why are some businesses successful, while others struggle? What are the best practices? Join a panel of stone professionals from three different family businesses as they share their experiences. Plan on joining this robust Q&A session.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Stone Trends 2016
Speaker: Vince Marazita, Marazita & Associates
Location: S103ABC
In these lean construction years, it is crucial to understand the direction of the market for dimensional stone. In the U.S., natural stone is trending as a well-accepted building material used in anything from countertops to high-performance buildings. This session covers information, sourcing, marketing and application trends in the stone industry over the last year, with examples of award-winning projects that have been recognized for their use of natural stone.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
The New Canvas: How Hospitality Designers Are Using Tile and Stone as Design Drivers
Moderator: Mary Scoviak, Boutique Design Magazine
Speaker: Rocco Laudizio, Slick+ Designusa
Location: S102
At a time when less is more, hotel and restaurant designers are using an array of new tile and stone elements to pump the impact of architectural surfaces. They’re exploring new solutions from dramatic textures to tactile finishes and a range of colors and metallics to make strong visual statements on every surface that surrounds the guest.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Women in Stone Workshop - Speed Mentoring and Round Table Discussion
Speakers: Kim Dumais, Miller Druck; Allyson Humphries, Walker Zanger; Marcella Prado, Laticrete; Kathy Spanier, Coldspring
Location: S103ABC
Participate in an organized rotation to build relationships and establish a network of peers within the stone industry. Providing you the opportunity to share knowledge and experience with others allows our organization to satisfy our mission to recruit, retain and advance women in their careers. Discuss sales and communications strategies, leadership, technical knowledge and more.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Fabricator Forum
Moderator: Eric Tryon, Premiere Surfaces
Speakers: Ross Accardi, Sprovieri’s Custom Countertops; Karen Rothenberg, Natural Stone Motif; Hank Strauss, Mountain Marble
Location: S103D
This open forum for residential countertop fabricators is an excellent opportunity to discuss with your colleagues many of the challenges involved in the residential countertop market. We will cover everything from fabrication methods, equipment needs and materials to customer expectations, personnel and sales strategies. Come prepared to share ideas and discuss opportunities and challenges that you face every day. All attendees are encouraged to participate by presenting a problem or sharing a solution.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Let Nature do the Work: Designing with Natural Stone
Speakers: Vince Marazita, Marazita & Associates
Location: S104
Many materials science and design courses stress the importance of understanding the nature of materials from origin to fabrication and from aesthetics to performance. The session provides an introduction to the geology and fabrication of natural stone materials. Learn how understanding the basic geological classifications and the Mohs Hardness Scale can help in achieving beautiful, functional and long-lasting designs. Review case studies of projects and designs that embrace the geological qualities and aesthetics and that let the stone ‘do the talking’ in the final design.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Supplier and Buyer Guide: Creating International Standards for Importing and Exporting
Speaker: David Carnevale, Carnevale & Lohr
Location: S103ABC
Have you ever had business disagreements about the import or export of stone? MIA has joined with leading stone companies to create comprehensive standards, guidelines and procedures for communicating, understanding and executing natural stone purchase and sale agreements to the benefit of both parties. Whether you are a supplier who has purchased for years or a fabricator looking to source for the first time, learn best practices as they apply to international natural stone purchases.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Wholesale and Slab Distributors Forum
Moderator: Tom Harty, Stone Source
Speakers: Carl Harris, Elmar New England; Kyle Keith, Terrazzo Marble and Supply; Ralesh Malhotra, Universal Granite and Marble
Location: S103D
This forum features an in-depth discussion of strategic issues critical to running successful wholesale and slab distribution companies. Topics will include a host of operational issues, including building strong fabricator relationships, networking with the design community, freight issues and much more.
