“One of our first moves as a new Board was to approve a comprehensive advertising and marketing plan for StonExpo 2004, to solidify its position in the marketplace as the natural stone industry's premier event,” said Bachrach, who has served on the StonExpo Federation Board since 1996. StonExpo Federation is a nonprofit entity dedicated to increasing the use of natural stone.

The Board established a strategic planning committee to develop a long-range plan and the vision for 2010, and the StonExpo Foundation voted to fund an independent research project to identify and quantify the value of natural stone versus engineered materials.

The following is the 2004 StonExpo Federation Board of Directors: Alex Bachrach, President, Stone World Magazine; Robert LeCoultre, Vice President, Sawing Systems; Doug Slocum, Secretary, Braxton Bragg Corp.; John Castaldo, Treasurer, Barre Granite Association. New trustees are Ian Avent, Dimas North America; Tom Robinson, Elberton Granite Association; Gary Stroeing, Park Industries; Michael Wiston, Valley Marble & Slate; and Peter Wyatt, NED Corp. Continuing trustees are Jeff Buczkiewicz, Building Stone Institute; Peter de Kok, GranQuartz; Ranier Devido, Allied Stone Industries; Gary Distelhorst, Marble Institute of America; Peter Edwards, Eurostone Machine; Mark Fernandes, Luck Stone Corp.; John Mattke, Cold Spring Granite Co.; Chuck Monson, American Monument Association; Jim Owens, Indiana Limestone Institute; Duke Pointer, National Building Granite Quarries Association; Jean St-Onge, Canadian Stone Association; and Mike Zniewski, Northwest Granite Manufacturers Association.

“With the return of Building Stone Institute to the Board of Trustees after an absence of several years, we now have all of the stone industry's trade associations represented on the Board,” said Pennie Sabel, who continues as Executive Director. Mary Scott continues as Assistant Executive Director. “Comprehensive industry input and leadership is what makes StonExpo so unique,” Sabel points out. “StonExpo is the only industry event of its kind produced for the stone industry by the stone industry.”

Held this year for the first time in California, StonExpo 2004 will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from Thursday, October 28, through Saturday, October 30. In addition to hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the largest selection of stone products and equipment from around the world, StonExpo 2004 also features a comprehensive array of educational programs taught by stone industry experts and presented by the Marble Institute of America. Select educational programming will begin on October 27.