It’s April and spring has arrived. And with the coming of spring also means a busy travel schedule for the Stone World staff. I kick off the first week of the month by heading to Birmingham, AL, for one of our Stone Industry Education events, which we organize with the Natural Stone Institute. This one – hosted by Triton Stone Group – will be the third of the year. So far, the first two were well received. We had a good turnout at both, and participants were interactive – which we like to see! You can learn more details about our Florida Stone Summit.

Shortly after returning from Birmingham, our entire team will be off to Atlanta for Coverings. This is always a busy show for us. We reconnect with our industry friends, and always walk away with meeting new ones. Coverings also provides a great arena for us to spot the latest stone and tile trends, as well as learning about other new products.

Soon after returning from Atlanta, it will be May. I’m excited to be joining the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (SFA) on their annual tour of Italy. It’s been quite a few years since I went on this well-planned all-encompassing adventure. We will be seeing a host of machine and tooling manufacturers, as well as stone producers – and of course, enjoying spectacular meals! Stay tuned for my full report on the trip once I return.

I have said many times before, but it’s worth saying it again. Getting out on the road and attending educational events, trade shows or being a part of a delegation tour never disappoints. These are all ways that we further our education on important issues affecting our industries, as well as keeping up-to-date on the latest product introductions. And the best part is being able to talk to industry members in person. So, if you see any of the Stone World crew out and about, be sure to stop us and say “hello.” We would love to hear what is new.