MIA+BSI 2016 Awards Program Entries Due Soon

Words: Dan KamysMIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute has announced the 2016 Awards Program Call for Entries. The MIA+BSI Awards Program honors and recognizes natural stone companies, natural stone professionals, and architects from around the world. Deadlines for entry are in June or July, depending on the award. The 2016 Awards Program consists of the following. Pinnacle Awards. Deadline: Friday, July 22. Pinnacle Awards are presented to companies whose projects’ beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone in commercial and residential applications in six categories:
  • Commercial Interior (sponsored by Mapei).
  • Commercial Exterior (sponsored by Mapei).
  • Residential Interior/Exterior (sponsored by GranQuartz).
  • Renovation/Restoration (sponsored by Coldspring).
  • Kitchen of the Year (sponsored by Vitoria Stone Fair/Marmomacc Latin America).
  • Bath of the Year (sponsored by Vitoria Stone Fair/Marmomacc Latin America).
A Grande Pinnacle Award (sponsored by Marmomacc) will be presented to the best overall project. Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award. Deadline: Friday, June 24. Sponsored by Polycor and TexaStone Quarries, this award honors a craftsman who has physically performed outstanding stone fabrication and/or installation. Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement. Deadline: Friday, July 8. This award was established to recognize an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the natural stone industry and the association. Natural Stone Scholarship Award. Deadline: Friday, July 15. Sponsored by Coldspring and Delaware Quarries, Inc., this award provides educational opportunities for aspiring fabricators, installers, or administrative apprentices interested in furthering their careers in the industry. The scholarship will cover travel and registration for TISE 2017. To learn more about the 2016 MIA+BSI Awards Program, please contact Helen Distelhorst (helen@naturalstoneinstitute.org) or visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/awards.
Britt Stokes, Acme Brick’s Director of Marketing, Retires.
August 2026

Fort Worth, Texas – After faithfully serving Acme Brick Company for 40 years, Britt has chosen to retire – although he will still be involved with Acme on various projects. Britt began his career with Acme as staff photographer and through dedicati

Industry News
Read More
Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
August 2026

Imagine being handed a set of plans calling for the largest brick cathedral in the world. Now imagine building it without modern cranes, engineered scaffolding, forklifts, power tools, or structural analysis software. That was the challenge facing medie

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More