2012 MIA Awards Season Opens
CLEVELAND – It’s time to get those award entries together for the Marble Institute of America’s 2012 program of honors.
The highly coveted awards honor and recognize companies, professionals, and architects involved in natural stone around the globe. It’s also a way to garner industry recognition and a higher standing with current and prospective customers.
Click photo to enlargeThe MIA’s Pinnacle Awards are presented to companies offering projects of beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship in the use of natural stone for commercial and residential applications. To be eligible, projects must have been completed within the past three years (January 2009 – July 2012); multiple entries are encouraged and accepted.
The Grande Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Marmomacc is presented to the best project across all categories. This award includes a beautiful trophy and includes a trip to Marmomacc 2013 in Verona, Italy.
An independent panel of judges, appointed by the MIA Board of Directors, will evaluate entries based on excellence in design and implementation, quality, workmanship and suitability of materials. Additionally, this year the MIA seeks to identify and award a project in one of the categories that demonstrates environmental responsiveness and successful resolution of sustainability goals.
To view all of the 2011 winners, go here.
Project categories for this year’s Pinnacles are Commercial Interior, Commercial Exterior, Residential Interior or Exterior (including kitchens, baths, fireplaces) and Renovation/Restoration.(Please include “before” and “after” photos.) Additionally, this year the MIA seeks to identify and award a project in one of the categories that demonstrates environmental responsiveness and successful resolution of sustainability goals.
All Pinnacle Award of Excellence and Merit winners now can invite an architect from the firm involved in winning project to StonExpo 2013 in Las Vegas next January. Offered with the support of Hanley Wood Exhibitions, the architects will receive three nights of lodging and continuing education opportunities.
An architect involved with the Grande Pinnacle Award will win a trip to Marmomacc to attend Veronafiere’s week-long continuing education program on designing with natural stone. The winner will receive round-trip economy airfare and complimentary hotel for five nights, as well as local meals and transportation.
The deadline to submit entries for the 2012 Pinnacle Awards is 5 p.m. EDT on Aug. 17. For more information and entry forms, go here.
The MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award singles out one professional with many years of experience in outstanding stone fabrication and/or installation. The individual candidate must have served as an apprentice stone mason and risen through the ranks as journeyman stone mason, foreman and superintendent.
In addition, the person honored must have a solid track record of leadership and mentorship, servicing as a real educator for fellow workers. Daniel (Danny) Catania of Miller Druck Specialty Contracting Inc. received the award in 2011.
The deadline for the for the Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award is Aug. 31. For more information and entry forms, go here.
The Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement recognizes an individual making extraordinary contributions to the natural stone industry and the Marble Institute of America. The award is named for MIA’s long-time technical director, the late Vincent R. Migliore, who was its first recipient.
The selection criteria includes consideration of successful and notable accomplishments during a professional career in natural stone; the intensity of involvement and dedication to the activities and objectives of MIA; contributions made to furthering professionals within the natural-stone industry; and national recognition, competence, or contributions to other associations and organizations serving the natural-stone industry.
In 2011, the MIA chose Ronald (Ron) Alan Busse of Busse Marble Co. in Smithfield, Texas, as the Migliore laureate.
The deadline is Sept. 7 for the Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement entries. For more information and entry forms, go here.
The MIA Natural Stone Scholarship provides educational opportunities for aspiring fabricators, installers, or administrative apprentices interested in furthering their careers within the natural-stone industry.
The scholarship covers travel and registration costs for one or more recipients to StonExpo and the MIA’s Annual Meeting. Attendance offers the scholarship winner the opportunity to gain valuable technical and practical knowledge, meet and network with leading stone professionals, deepen his or her commitment to a career in the stone industry, and explore his or her potential for future leadership.
Eddie Mendoza of All American Stone & Tile Care Inc. in Victorville, Calif., received the 2011 scholarship.
The deadline is Oct. 5 for the MIA Natural Stone Scholarship. For more information and entry forms, go here.
For more information, contact Helen Distelhorst at hdistelhorst@marble-institute.com or go to www.marble-institute.com/awards.
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