A Regional Stone Industry Education Event Set for Minnesota
MAPLE GROVE, MN – MSI will host a Stone Industry Education (SIE) event at its facility in Maple Grove, MN, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The all-day seminar is organized by Stone World in conjunction with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI).
Takeaways from the event will include:
- Discover the latest advancements in stone fabrication -- from automation to sustainable material practices.
- Tackle key industry issues, including sourcing challenges, transportation delays and market fluctuations.
- Share and learn best practices for workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
- Identify workforce skill gaps and explore training opportunities to enhance team capabilities.
- Build lasting partnerships and tap into shared knowledge and resources within the fabrication community.
The day will include three different panel discussions moderated by industry veteran Buddy Ontra of Bostone in Bridgeport, CT. Ontra is excited to have local experts in their field to be part of the conversations on trends, safety and technical issues. “I think of this as a regional event, where we are bringing in the experienced local talent, who can engage with their peers to share knowledge and to learn from each other,” he said.
The event schedule includes:
9:30 a.m. -- Material Trends Panel
- Buddy Ontra (Moderator)
- Thomas Price, MSI
- Dan King, Leon's Countertops
10:45 a.m. -- Safety in the Stone Industry
- Buddy Ontra (Moderator)
- Ted Huppert, Grazzini Brothers
1:30 p.m. -- Technical Fabricator Forum
- Buddy Ontra (Moderator)
- Nate Schultz, Innovative Surfaces
- Brad Nooris, NVR Surfaces
- Steve McIntosh, Astonia Stone Artisan
To learn more about the Minnesota Stone Summit, as well as to view the complete 2026 Stone Industry Education series schedule, and to register, visit www.stoneindustryeducation.com.
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