In its third year as StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, the
2011 event will be held in conjunction with Surfaces, a leading floor covering
event, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. The education
program runs from January 24 to 27, while the exhibits are open from January 25
to 27.
The event will provide industry professionals with the latest technology,
first-rate education and a comprehensive exhibition of stone and technology. StonExpo/Marmomacc
Americas is the largest international “stone-only” show held in the U.S.,
averaging nearly 200 companies and over 4,000 attendees from around the
world.
“The decision to co-locate Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas was made for
several reasons,” stated Dana Teague, Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas
Show Director. “Combining the two events will allow the stone industry and the
flooring industry unparalleled education and networking opportunities as well
as exposure to the largest product selection of any show of its kind. Also,
moving StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas to late January gives those exhibitors who
also take part in Marmomacc in Verona, Italy, the chance to catch their breath before
heading to Las Vegas.”
“The Marble Institute is supportive of the decision to co-locate StonExpo with
Surfaces beginning in 2011,” said Gary Distelhorst, CAE, Executive Vice
President and CEO of the Marble Institute of America, also an Official Sponsor
of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. “We feel this provides an incredible
opportunity for StonExpo exhibitors to get exposure to the approximately 25,000
attendees at Surfaces, as well as a great opportunity for StonExpo registrants
to visit the Surfaces trade show and meet new suppliers, see new products and
obtain new knowledge.”
Show Features
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas features a strong international presence, with
exhibitors from Italy, Brazil, Turkey, China and many other countries; live,
hands-on demonstrations in one central location, featuring both StoneLIVE! and
the Stone Pavilion; the Stone Innovation Pavilion, featuring the latest
products available to the stone industry; and The Concrete Countertop Institute
(CCI)’s Concrete Pavilion and Concrete Countertop Institute Conference,
featuring six classes on creating successful concrete countertops. Also, with
paid admission to StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2011, attendees will also receive
access to Surfaces 2011.
Every year, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas attracts fabricators, installers,
architects, designers, builders, kitchen and bath specialists, retailers,
distributors, landscape architects, restoration professionals, general
contractors, quarriers and more ready to do business.
Exhibitors at the event showcase the latest in stone, stone products,
alternative surfaces, concrete, machinery, tools and accessories. Companies
present at StonExpo/Marmomamcc Americas 2011 will include a number of firms
exhibiting for the first time, along with a full roster for returning
companies. A complete list of exhibitors can be found at
www.stonexpo.com.
Education
Until December 16, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas is offering complimentary
conference registration with exhibits registration. For just $15, attendees
gain access to the show floor and the entire education program. Additionally,
with the co-location of Surfaces and StonExpo, the total number of available
sessions is 75.
The 2011 General Session, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Overcoming
Adversity,” will take place on January 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The
keynote speaker will be Aron Ralston, who spent 127 hours trapped by an
800-pound boulder while out hiking in a canyon. His experience inspired Danny
Boyle, Academy Award-winning director of Slumdog Millionaire, to retell this
story in the film 127 Hours, starring James Franco. Ralston will recount his
tale and share his message of perseverance, determination, courage and
goal-attaining.
With regard to classroom education, the event will offer a total of 51
AIA-approved courses created with StonExpo attendees in mind. An attendee may
earn up to 14 AIA LUs by registering for and attending educational courses at
StonExpo.
A complete list of sessions can be found in the “Latest News” section at
www.stoneworld.com, and they include the following:
• Ronald Hannah of Cadenza Granite and Marble and Keith Graves of Marva Marble
and Granite will co-present the pre-show workshop, “Developing a Cure for Those
Nasty Fabrication and Installation Headaches” on January 24 from 9:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. This is a chance to present installation and fabrication problems
and tackle them as a group.
• A second pre-show workshop, “Thinking Inside the Rock - The Mineralogical
Makeup of a Natural Stone,” is being presented by Chuck Muehlbauer of the
Marble Institute of America on January 24 from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Attendees
at this popular session will learn the basic mineralogical composition and
formation of basic stone classifications, understand the typical testing
regimens and quality controls within the industry. Moreover, they will know how
to use the above to make informed decisions regarding appropriate
applications.
• Duane Naquin of Stone Interiors, a veteran speaker on stone fabricator
issues, will present “Are You Cheating Yourself? A Review of Cost vs. Price” on
January 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In this session, attendees will gain a
better understanding of the costs associated with operating a fabrication shop.
They will also learn how to determine actual costs for raw material, labor,
transportation, travel time, etc.
• Cameron DeMille from MilleStone Marble & Tile, Inc. (a first-time
classroom education presenter at StonExpo) will present “Stone Refinishing and
Repair: Practical Applications and How-To’s” January 25 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00
p.m. DeMille will cover tips and tricks for common repairs that many
professionals are afraid to share.
• Also on January 25 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Filippo Emanuel of Tenax USA will
present “Resin-Treated Slabs: Why to Treat and How to Solve Associated
Problems.” This presentation will examine the latest resin processing products
and explain how to solve the problems caused by them.
• Focusing on the management of a stone industry operation, “Hope is Not a
Business Plan” will be presented by Mark Lauzon of Denali Slab Studio on
January 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This session will focus on basic business
planning strategies and how to manage your business in today’s market. It will
help attendees analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their business, discover
how to uncover hidden opportunities and learn to identify potential threats to
success.
• Addressing a topic not commonly presented, Jacob Bunin of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection is heading the seminar, “Know Before You Import: U.S. Customs
Classification of Building Stone” on January 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. To
plan pricing and avoid unwanted surprises, importers should understand Customs’
classification of stone. This presentation will discuss tariff classifications
based on identity and degree of working of the stone. Attendees will gain
familiarity with the tariff provisions and rates of duty for various building
stones under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S., along with education
on NAFTA and classification.
• David Bonasera of Environmentally Safe Products & Procedures and Tom
McNall of Great Northern Stone will again share tips during “Walking the Fine
Line Between Maintenance and Restoration” on January 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30
a.m.
• On January 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Aaron Crowley from
FabricatorsFriend will present “Less Chaos More Cash - The PROcess for Reducing
Confusion and Improving Profits in Your Small Business.” In this session, Crowley will share his
process-driven approach to management.
In addition to the classroom sessions, StoneLIVE! is a destination for “how-to”
demonstrations on the show floor, where attendees will get up-close expert
instruction on some of the industry’s most challenging stone installation and
processing techniques. These complimentary demonstrations are a value add for
all attendees and take place directly on the show floor. StoneLIVE! is
presented by the Stone Fabricators Alliance.
The StoneLIVE! stage is combined with StonExchange, where members can listen,
speak, learn, meet and exchange ideas, solutions and more. All sessions are
complimentary and are open to all attendees. Look for informative sessions from
leading associations, including the Marble Institute of America (MIA), Natural
Stone Council (NSC) and roundtable discussions with leading industry
experts.
For more information, visit
www.stonexpo.com.
