The Science of Sealing Stone
Instructors: David Bonasera, ESP – Environmentally Safe Products and Procedures; George O’Regan, DuPont StoneTech Professional
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
The Selling Begins When the Customer Says No
Instructor: Sam Allman, Allman Consulting and Training
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Visual Merchandising 101: The Basics of Excellent Presentation
Instructor: Linda Cahan, Cahan & Company
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
What Everybody Needs to Know About Selling Stone
Instructor: Danny MacNair, Daltile & Stone
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
How to Introduce CEU Classes to Connect with the Design Community – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America
Instructors: Sarah Kelly, MKG Department; Vincent Moiso, Quarry Collection
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Embracing Sustainability through Certification in the Natural Stone Life-Cycle – Brought to you by the Natural Stone Council
Instructor: Jack Geibig, PE, Ecoform
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Grade Your Shop’s Performance and Change Its Future
Instructors: Robert Bromley, Park Industries; Jeff Brekhus, Brekhus Tile & Stone
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Ins and Outs of Waterproofing and Crack Isolation Membranes
Instructors: Steve Taylor, Custom Building Products; David deBear, Custom Building Products
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Installation Is Not a Dirty Word! – How to Sell the Value of a Well Installed Floor
Instructor: Tom Jennings, WFCA
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Come Together: Managing Multiple Generations
Instructor: Chris Ramey, Affluent Insights/The Home Trust
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Stores That Floor: Marketing to the Coveted Female Customer
Instructor: Christine Whittemore, Simple Marketing Now
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Beauty is More Than Skin Deep: What Designers Need to Know About Maintaining and Refinishing Wood Floors – Brought to you by the National Wood Flooring Association
Instructor: John Lessick, Apex Wood Floors
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
*Design Luncheon – Brought to you by Quick-Step
Instructor: Erinn Valencich, Designer and HGTV Host
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Introducing iPad Apps for the Design Community – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America
Instructor: Garen Distelhorst, Marble Institute of America
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
All Things Travertine
Instructors: Danny MacNair, Daltile & Stone; Rod Sigman, Custom Building Products
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Essentials of Stone Maintenance and Restoration Forum
Instructors: Panelists: Brian Cardone, Dimensional Stone and Tile Designs; David Bonasera, ESP – Environmentally Safe Products and Procedures; Fred Hueston, PhD, Stone Forensics; Moderator: Ted McFadden, Sureshine Care and Restoration Services
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
From 18 to 80: Understanding, Appreciating and Selling to People of All Generations
Instructor: Linda Cahan, Cahan & Company
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Grout: Your Choice Really Matters
Instructor: Mike Micalizzi, Custom Building Products
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Implementing Safety in Your Stone Warehouse and Fabrication Shop
Instructors: Jim Nikolopoulos, Walker & Zanger and Panel
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Marketing Transition: Integrating Online Marketing into Traditional Marketing
Instructors: Michael Vogel, Creating Your Space; Tyler Levi, Levi’s 4 Floors; Scott D. Perron, Big Bob’s of America
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Six Elements of a Powerful Showroom
Instructors: Chris Ramey, Affluent Insights/The Home Trust; Kim Bernard, Walker & Zanger
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Kitchen and Bath – Directions and Designs
Instructor: Mark Woodman, Mark Woodman Design & Color
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What Is Fueling Your Customer to Buy? – The Latest Research on Consumer Buying Habits
Instructor: Lisbeth Calandrino, Improving Human Performance
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Best Practices Forum: A Discussion with Successful Flooring Retailers
Instructors: Jeff Macco, Macco’s Floor Covering Center; David Snedeker, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Panel
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Countertop Installers Forum: Solutions to the Most Common Problems
Instructors: Dustin Braudway, Bluewater Surfaces; Tony Malisani, Malisani, Inc.; Buddy Ontra, Ontra Stone Concepts
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Design and Color Trends for 2013-2014 – Featuring Soft Surface Products
Instructor: Victoria Redshaw, Scarlet Opus Limited
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
All of the Essentials to Start, Build and Maintain a Successful Stone Care and Restoration Business
Instructor: Tim Connelly, San Diego Stone Care
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Installation Failures & Solutions: Hardwood
Instructor: Scott Avery, Modern Tech Floors
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Seven Secrets to Running a Profitable Stone Shop
Instructor: Mark Lauzon, FOCUS 3D
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Understanding Thin Tile Installations
Instructor: Neil McMurdie, PhD, MAPEI
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
What Every Retailer Can Learn From Apple®
Instructor: James Dion, Dionco
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
The New Stone Documentary – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America
Instructor: Gary Distelhorst, Marble Institute of American
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Building Performance Trends and Best Practices with Natural Stone
Instructor: Stephanie Vierra, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Vierra Design & Education Services
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Carpet Fibers: New Technologies and Advancements You Should Know to Keep You Out of Trouble
Instructor: Lew Migliore, LGM and Associates
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Optimizing Your Fabrication Shop
Instructor: Miles Crowe, Crowe Custom Countertops
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Challenges of Installing Large Format Porcelain Tile and Stone
Instructor: Michael Granatowski, MAPEI
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
New Method and New Requirements for Coefficient of Friction for Ceramic Tile – DCOF AcuTestSM
Instructor: Eric Astrachan, Tile Council of North America
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
*Designer Day Luncheon with John Gidding
Instructor: John Gidding, Designer and Host of HGTV’s “CURB APPEAL: THE BLOCK”
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Tech Tips: Dealing with Freeze/Thaw and Climate Change – Brought to you by the Marble Institute of America
Instructor: Chuck Muehlbauer, Marble Institute of American
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Surface Stories – International Trends
Instructor: Mark Woodman, Mark Woodman Design & Color
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Do You Really Want this Stone Restoration Job? – Recognize “Hidden” Problems Before it’s Too Late
Instructors: David Bonasera, ESP – Environmentally Safe Products and Procedures; Greg Mowat, Forensic Tile Consultants
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Installation Failures & Solutions: Tile
Instructor: Mike Micalizzi, Custom Building Products
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Installers: Employee vs. Subcontractor
Instructors: Jeff Macco, Macco’s Floor Covering Center; Tom Jennings, WFCA; Jeffrey W. King, Crowell & Moring
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Keys to Effective Time Management – Surviving in a 24/7 World
Instructor: Caren McCabe, McCabe Training & Consulting
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Stone Fabrication – The Art of Setting Customer Expectations
Instructors: John Kilfoyle, United Marble Fabricators; Miles Crowe, Crowe Custom Countertops
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Building Your Marketing Tool Kit
Instructor: Marty Gould, Focalize Consulting
Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Case Studies in Natural Stone Restoration and Maintenance
Instructors: Rawi Tabbah, International Stoneworks; Joseph Salvo, Miracle Sealants Company
Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Case Studies: Sustainable Design Projects with Natural Stone
Instructor: Rodney Harvey, Curtain Wall Design and Consulting
Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Adhering to Tomorrow’s Concrete Surfaces: Admixtures, Moisture and High Level Fly Ash
Instructors: Howard Kanara, CTL Group; Bruce Burton, Custom Building Products
Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Strategy Shift: Fast Forward
Instructor: Beverly Koehn, Beverly Koehn & Associates
Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Advanced Branding and Selling Skills for the Stone Fabricator
Instructors: Joey Marcella, Mario & Stone; Mark Lauzon, FOCUS 3D
Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Performance and Sustainability: The Latest in Tile Industry Product Specifications
Instructor: Bill Griese, Tile Council of North America