Earn the Natural Stone Institute’s new Silica & Slab Safety Certificate in this live training session. Learn the key components of a stone fabrication safety program and gain insights into safe slab handling and reducing exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
Get the tools you need to improve workplace safety, maintain OSHA compliance, and train your employees to ensure a safe and secure work environment for your entire team.
Learning Objectives:
Mark Meriaux
Natural Stone Institute
Non-Natural Stone Institute member companies who join prior to the seminar can send two employees free of charge (a $198 value). For more information about membership, go to www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/whyjoin or call 440.250.9222 and ask for the NSI membership team.
Stone fabrication industry professionals, including business owners, marketing experts, and those eager to expand their businesses, connect with suppliers, and glean invaluable 'best practices' for successful operations.
4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Separate registration required for CEU course
Mark Meriaux
Natural Stone Institute
Red or white, sweet or dry? The Wine & Stone presentation was developed as a unique way to show attendees what factors make stone hard or soft, veined or patterned, etc. For example, nutritionally restricted limestone soil gives more acidity to the wines grown there. Mineral composition also comes into play when talking about the characteristics of stone. Marbles are composed primarily of calcium carbonate which makes them less resistant to chemicals such as acids and bases. Find out more interesting facts that determine the characteristics of wine & stone!
Learning Objectives:
Mark Meriaux
Accreditation & Technical Manager
Natural Stone Institute
Mark Meriaux is Accreditation and Technical Manager for the Natural Stone Institute. After many years working in the industry, Mark joined the Natural Stone Institute staff in 2016.
Mark earned a BS of Mechanical Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA in 1991. His post-collegiate career began in technical sales of HVAC and power generation equipment for multiple companies in the Atlanta, GA area. Mark’s career in the natural stone industry began in 2002 when he and a partner opened The Granite Shop in Smyrna, GA. The Granite Shop ceased operations when the partnership dissolved in 2008. Mark continued in the stone industry selling and managing fabrication of larger and larger stone installation projects from Miami, FL to Boston, MA. Mark has also been a founding member of two other stone industry trade groups for fabricators: Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (2006) and All Slab Fabbers (2019).
In Mark’s current role with the Natural Stone Institute, he oversees the Accreditation Program – the only independent credentialing program available to stone fabrication and installation companies. Mark serves on the staff technical team and provides technical help and guidance to member companies and design professionals. Mark also plays a key role in the Natural Stone Institute’s focus on Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) safety education and training resources.
Since 2016, Mark has had regular speaking engagements at major industry trade shows and regional education and safety events. In 2019, Mark presented RCS compliance education and safety training to over 750 attendees at 20+ events. During his annual travels, Mark visits over 150 stone fabrication companies each year. From these visits, Mark gains first-hand knowledge about common issues that stone fabrication companies face, and with that information can cater messaging and training that is both understandable and achievable.
Mark has been a resident of Marietta, GA for over 20 years, and lives with his wife, Stacy, and their two children, Sarah and Tyler.
Learn how your company can participate in an upcoming Stone Summit.