Stone Education at Coverings 2014

LAS VEGAS – Coverings will bring another full schedule of education to the Las Vegas Convention Center late this month – and there’s plenty of sessions for stone fabricators and installers.

The seminars – all free – are sprinkled throughout the April 28-May 3 run of the 2014 edition of the stone-and-tile event. Here’s a guide to some of the key sessions of interest for the stone trade:

Monday, April 28

Sealing Tile, Grout, and Natural Stone: True or False? Joe Salvo of Miracle Sealants and Abrasives will explore the myths about sealers and impregnators, and use in the tile and stone industry. This session will educate attendees on how to separate fact from fiction, and how to use these products effectively. 1–2 p.m.

Metrics for the Automated & Unautomated Fabrication Shop. GK Naquin of Stone Interiors, and Paul Menninger, Capitol Granite, will present a comprehensive view of the fixed and variable costs, contribution margins, and per activity man-hours that are critical to extrapolating large bids. 2:15–3:15 p.m.

To Tell The Truth: Will The Real Granite Please Stand Up?! Chuck Muehlbauer of the Marble Institute of America asks, “How many of the granites on the market are actually granite?” If a quartzite is etched by acid, does that mean it’s not really quartzite? How many names can you think of for Uba Tuba? If you’re confused about these issues, this session will unlock some of the mysteries surrounding stone definition and nomenclature for stone sales. 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Also on Monday:

• Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse in Stone Manufacturing with Jim Callaghan, Joe Meyer and Jon Lancto. 1–2 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29

How to Write a Care & Maintenance Plan for Stone Applications. Ted McFadden shows how to develop a care and maintenance plan for your stone application by learning about how the chemical composition of a stone affects its performance, what sealers and cleaning products are on the market today, and what products are recommended for different applications. 8–9 a.m.

Fabricators Forum. This open forum for residential countertop fabricators, including moderator Tony Malisani and fabricators Brandon Maldonado, Dave Syerson and Marco Duran, will address a range of topics from fabrication methods, equipment needs and materials to customer expectations, personnel and sales strategies. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to share ideas, discuss opportunities and challenges faced every day. 8:30–10 a.m.

Stone Trends 2014. Vince Marazita offers the 16th annual ‘State of the Industry’ presentation at Coverings on the U.S. dimensional stone market, covering information, sourcing, marketing and application trends along with examples of award winning projects that have been recognized for their use of natural stone.
1:45–2:45 p.m.

Maintaining and Protecting Your Online Reputation. The reputation of a business is no longer solely in its owner’s hands. Internet sites, such as Angie’s List, and social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, can make or break a business’ reputation. Presented by associate publisher and social media specialist for Fabulous Floors Magazine, Lisbeth Caladrino, this session will help business owners to gain an understanding about today’s customers and how those customers may influence new business for the company. 1:45–2:45 p.m.

David vs. Goliath – How Does the Little Guy Compete? Big contractors start out as small contractors, and this presentation by Josiah Lilly of Epic Ceramic and Stone will discuss the challenges in bidding, bonding, personnel, cash flow and the best ways to handle those challenges. 3–4 p.m.

Also on Tuesday:

• Wholesale/Slab Distributors Forum, moderated by Vincent Moiso, with panelists Jonathan Zanger, Mark Schama, Rupesh Shah. 8:30–10 a.m.
• Barrier Free Shower Installation by Art Mintie. 1:45–2:45 p.m
• MIA Dimensional Stone Design Manual: Revised Restoration and Maintenance Chapters with Keith Graves. 3–4 p.m.
• Natural Stone & Green Design with Robert Bacon. 3–4 p.m.

Wednesday, April 30

Managing a Successful Family Business. Working in a family business can be a (to put it nicely) challenge. Why are some businesses successful, while others struggle? What are the best practices? Join moderator Tony Malasani and a panel of stone professionals — David Castellucci, Paolo Mantenuto, Rita Mantenuto, Dave Syverson — from different family businesses as they share their experiences. 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Large Porcelain Panel Installations for Floors and Walls. Tom Plaskota advises large porcelain panels provide an innovative option for finished surfaces, but the size and thickness characteristics that make them aesthetically pleasing also present unique installation challenges. Learn about these unique challenges, review proper installation methods (floor and wall installations) and help solve the mystery of these panels to ensure a successful and long-lasting installation. 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Also on Wednesday:

• The Restoration and Maintenance of Stone & Terrazzo Using No Chemicals with Fred Hueston. 8–9 a.m.
• How to Use CEU Courses to Build Relationships with Architects and Designers with Sarah Kelly and Vincent Moiso. 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Sustainable Natural Stone – An Introduction to NSC 373 with Dan Rae and Josh Levinson. 4–5 p.m.

Thursday, May 1

Exotic Stones – Expectations, Issues and Resolution Tips for Fabricators. Due to technology/process advances, the industry has seen an explosion of exotic stones but sometimes the same technology that helped bring that stone to market is a struggle for the fabricator. Dealing with these often resined slabs requires additional knowledge about how to handle them, especially with color matching and edge polishing. With Filippo Emanuel and Ron Hannah. 9:15–10:45 a.m.

The Essentials of Stone Restoration. Join Rawi Tabbah, of International Stoneworks, inan informative session is designed for attendee participation, and all attendees are encourage to share ideas, challenges, and solutions, in addition to hearing experts share their own field experiences in tile and stone restoration. 9:15–10:45 a.m.

Also on Thursday:

• The 15 Words & Phrases That Are Destroying Your HardSurface Business with Chris Ramey. 9:15–10:45 a.m.
• Certifying a Tile and Stone Installation Product with the Green Squared® Program by Don Miller. 9:15–10:45 a.m.
• Innovative Websites in the Stone Industry with Sarah Kelly. 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

Learn about all of the conference sessions available at Coverings 2014 here. Register to attend Coverings for free at coverings.com/register.

Get the news of the industry with The EDGE, the monthly e-newsletter from Stone Update. Sign up for your free copy here.

For the latest industry info, check Slab & Sheet every Thursday, plus our Facebook page.