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(MIA0607)

CLEVELAND, OH, MARCH 15, 2006

The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is accepting entries for the Second Annual MIA Advertising Awards Competition, honoring the best advertising, collateral material and special promotions. The purpose of the competition is simply to honor the best advertising, collateral material and web design by member stone industry companies. New to the 2006 competition is a website design category.

On the heels of last year’s successful inaugural event, which drew more than 130 entries, the tremendous growth of internet commerce by member firms mandated that website design be added to the competition mix. The new web design categories will include both business-to-business and business-to-consumer entries.

While adding the website design category, the MIA will not be offering the radio and television advertising for the 2006 competition, but look for these categories to again be offered in 2007, explained Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of the 1500-member organization of quarriers, distributors, fabricators, vendors and service suppliers to the industry. “Adding website development is a natural extension of what we did last year,” said Distelhorst. “Today, an effective web presence can be a company’s most prominent advertising vehicle. We want to honor designers for the aesthetics and functionality and for promoting natural stone,” he said.

Other major 2006 judging categories include color and black and white print advertising for newspaper and magazines and collateral materials, including brochures, posters and direct mail.

Salem Stone of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is sponsoring the ad awards competition for the second consecutive year, Distelhorst explained. Judging is done by a panel of advertising experts all of with no connection to the stone industry or MIA. The competition is open to all MIA members around the world.

Deadline for entries is July 31, 2006. Awards will be presented at StonExpo in Las Vegas on November 10, 2006, at a special MIA awards luncheon.

About the Marble Institute of America

For over 60 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.

-ENDS-

Subject: MIA ANNOUNCES 2006 ADVERTISING AWARDS COMPETITION – ADDS WEBSITE DESIGN CATEGORY

Visit: http://www.marble-institute.com/

Contacts:

Helen Distelhorst
Marble Institute of America

Tel: (440) 250-9222

E-mail: hdistelhorst@marble-institute.com

Bill Levy
Bill Levy Communications

Tel: (216) 861-6778

Or e-mail: blevy@levymg.com

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