OBERLIN, OH -- Nineteen companies were honored at the Marble Institute of America (MIA) annual meeting/awards ceremony in Las Vegas, NV, for earning the MIA accreditation credential in 2014. MIA Accreditation for natural stone fabricators and commercial contractors recognizes those companies that meet the industry's highest standards for business activities, product knowledge, fabrication and installation.

Receiving the MIA Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator credential:

•              AHI Stoneworks of Hot Springs, AR

•              Artistic Counters, Inc. of Garden Ridge, TX

•              Dee Brown, Inc. of Garland, TX

•              INcounters of Abilene, TX

•              KG Stevens, Inc. of New Berlin, WI

•              Lakeside Surfaces, Inc. of Norton Shores, MI

•              Morningstar Marble & Granite, Inc. of Topsham, ME

•              Paramount Stone Co. of Stamford, CT

•              Picasso Tile & Design of Tempe, AZ

•              Pure Granite Rocks! of Vernon, BC

•              Quality Surfaces, Inc. of Spencer, IN

•              Sims-Lohman of Cincinnati, OH

•              Smokey Mountain Tops of Knoxville, TN

•              Stoneshop of Cherry Hill, NJ

•              Surfaces - Viking Kitchen Cabinets of New Britain, CT

•              Tennessee Marble Company of Friendsville, TN

•              U.S. Granite of Tyler, TX

Receiving the MIA Accredited Commercial A Installer credential:

•              Camarata Masonry Systems of Houston, TX

•              Dee Brown, Inc. of Garland, TX

Receiving the MIA Accredited Commercial B Installer credential:

•              Stockett Tile and Granite Co. of Phoenix, AZ

"This was the largest single year for newly accredited companies since the program launched," said Rodney Harvey, MIA Accreditation Commission Chairperson, Curtain Wall Design & Consulting Inc. "It is great to see companies embrace the stone industries highest credential."

"The growth of the program is largely attributed to an improving economy and launch of the popular accreditation program immersion classes," said Jim Hieb, MIA's Executive Vice President/CEO.

Several program enhancements are planned for 2015, including more immersion classes, work with the design community to reference "MIA accreditation" in design specifications and continued work on creating an accreditation program for the care and maintenance segment of the industry. For more information about becoming accredited, or the next immersion class being held April 15in Orlando, FL, go online to www.marble-institute.com/gettheseal.