The Marble Institute of America’s Accreditation Program has experienced its most active quarter of growth since the program’s first three months in existence. Activity in the commercial arena has been especially encouraging and is a sign that the economic conditions that ravaged the industry over the past several years are receding. Jon Lancto of Surface Products and Chairman of the Accreditation Commission said, “following an extremely positive StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, we knew that it was time to ramp up our recruitment efforts for the Accreditation Program. We had been hearing for several years that the economic climate was just not right to push a credentialing program. Many MIA members are looking for 2013 to be the year they become accredited.”
Communicating a vision of having Accreditation specified by architects and educating members on the process of becoming Accredited during face to face meetings was instrumental in this current momentum. David Castellucci of Kenneth Castellucci and Associates, an Accredited Commercial A Contractor, had this to say, “it seems that there was much misinformation about the costs and requirements associated with the program out in the marketplace. The process is rigorous, but also achievable for great companies. I feel that without knowing anything else about a company, except that they were an MIA Accredited Commercial Contractor, that I would not hesitate to recommend them to any architect, GC/CM or owner.”