Floor covering and stone industry professionals seeking a cutting-edge, multi-track educational program to enrich their business development should register today for SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas while the conference program is still free with exhibits registration. These leading industry events are January 28-31, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.       

More than 70 business, installation, technical and “hot topic” sessions representing the newest ideas on every challenge from sealing stone to avoiding problems with floor covering to effective time management skills will be offered over four days. Topics are designed specifically for floor covering and stone industry professionals wishing to increase their level of expertise in their field.

“Education is imperative to growing a profitable business in today’s market. Surfaces | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas’ industry leading educational program accommodates all levels of understanding from novice through expert,” said Jennifer Hughes, Conference Manager. “The sessions identify key issues facing the floor covering and stone industries with a focus on helping to improve production, performance and the bottom line.”

Forty of the more than 70 sessions feature brand new topics covering every business segment. Held Monday, January 28 through Thursday, January 31, all sessions are less than 2 hours in length and do not conflict with exhibit hall hours. This schedule allows attendees ample time on the show floor to find new products, services, technologies and innovations.

Here is a list of some of the new sessions offered in this year’s program:

  • The Science of Sealing Stone 
  • Performance and Sustainability: The Latest in Tile Industry Product Specifications
  • The Challenges of Installing Large Format Porcelain Tile and Stone
  • Keys to Effective Time Management – Surviving in a 24/7 World
  • Glass Tile: A Journey through Design Trends, Colors and Applications
  • Building Your Marketing Tool Kit 
  • Avoiding Problems with Floor Covering:Getting the Right Product in the Right Place
  • Stone Fabrication - The Art of Setting Customer Expectations
  • Social Media in Action: Retailers Share Best Practices

All educational sessions require pre-registration. For a complete list of sessions and speakers, or to register for Surfaces | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, visit www.Surfaces.com or www.StonExpo.com. Online registration is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Floor covering and stone industry professionals can elevate their professional standing by earning an S² Masters Certification available in all eight program tracks. This certification includes a certificate, recognition on the show website and a ribbon for their 2014 badge signifying them as an expert in the field. More than 300 conference attendees from 2012 earned their S2 Masters Certification. In addition, the Surfaces | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas program offers courses that qualify for credits that are not offered anywhere else.  Select sessions qualify for credit with AIA, AIBD, IDCEC (ASID, IDC, IIDA), IICRC, WFCA and CFI. 

The official sponsor of Surfaces is the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the floor covering industry’s largest advocacy organization representing floor covering retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America. 

The WFCA is a recognized leader in marketing research, industry certification programs, and operates the premier consumer flooring web site, www.wfca.org, providing unbiased information about every type of floor covering and connecting customers to members’ retail stores. The WFCA also influences public policy affecting the floor covering industry and consumers. For more information about the WFCA, visit www.wfca-pro.org.

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas’ Official Sponsors are the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Natural Stone Council. The mission of the MIA is to promote the use of natural stone and be the world’s most authoritative natural stone information resource. Membership in the association is worldwide and includes over 2,000 natural stone producers, exporters/importers, distributors/wholesalers, fabricators, finishers, installers, and industry suppliers—all committed to the highest standards of workmanship and ethics. 

The Natural Stone Council, home of the Genuine Stone® brand, is the leader in the stone industry that represents the major associations who are committed to promotion and education of the industry and general public of the value and benefits of natural stone. Member associations include: Allied Stone Industries, Building Stone Institute, Elberton Granite Association, Indiana Limestone Institute, Marble Institute of America, National Building Granite Quarries Association, National Slate Association and Natural Stone Alliance.

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2013 official endorsers are Marmomacc and ASI.