Oberlin, Ohio, and Chestertown, N.Y. -- With a vote of 565 to 25, the memberships of Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Building Stone Institute (BSI) have overwhelmingly decided to authorize a merger of North America's two most prominent stone associations. Effective January 1, 2018, the combined association will formally be known as the Natural Stone Institute, a name widely used during their two-year joint venture.
Jim Hieb, CAE CEO of the Natural Stone Institute and Jane Bennett, executive vice president of the Natural Stone Institute thank all those members who voted and everyone who has participated in the dialogue about the merger. "Your trust, support and guidance have helped make this possible," they stated in a letter to their members. "Together, we will continue our resolve to provide the best technical, educational and promotional support for our growing membership and the natural stone industry, as well as expand our outreach to the design community. We now have the combined assets to become the largest and most influential natural stone association in the world."