CLEVELAND, OH -- The Marble Institute of America, Inc. (MIA) recently announced Jimmy Ternent, Vice President of Construction at Rugo Stone LLC in Lorton, VA, as the 2011 recipient of the "MIA Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year." A six-member panel of stone industry veterans selected Ternent from a pool of nominees in a competition sponsored by a leading industry supplier, Campolonghi Italia. The award, a beautifully crafted and unique plaque, was presented to Brett Rugo on behalf of Jimmy Ternent at the MIA annual Awards Luncheon during StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas on January 26, 2011.

In 1971, Ternent joined the natural stone industry as a laborer. By 1992, he had progressed to the position of mason foreman while employed with Ron Bratti Associates.  From 1992 to 1996, he served as superintendant with Harmon Contracting, and in 1996 he joined Rugo Stone in Lorton, VA as its Vice President of Construction & Corporate Officer where he continues to serve the stone industry today.

"I had the good fortune to have started in this field at a very young age, and I have come into contact with over 1,000 workers and supervisors in the last 30 years," said Brett Rugo. "Jim Ternent is without question the finest marble mason and supervisor I have ever met. Starting with Jim's layout skills, combined with his ability to read and proof drawings, he was like no one I had ever met on a job. Jim personally installed many of the most complex and precious stone projects we have contracted, and his stone setting ability is excellent."

In his free time, Ternent likes to watch football and go fishing.  He says one of the greatest things about the stone business is that he never gets bored. "There's always something new or something changes, so there's always a challenge."

The Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year Award is an annual MIA competition to honor the men and women who truly reflect the best of the natural stone industry and bring stone to life through love of the material, craftsmanship and attention to detail.