Stone Industry Education Series Hits the Road
by Jennifer Richinelli
Photo by Jennifer Richinelli
As the New Year begins, Stone World and the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) are revving up for the 2025 Stone Industry Education (SIE) series. These full-day events are designed to cover pertinent issues fabricators face today. This year’s schedule includes nine seminars across the U.S.
The first in the series kicks off at Triton Stone Group’s facility on the outskirts of New Orleans, in Harahan, LA. Fabricators attending this workshop will receive a certification in silica and slab safety. The session will be presented by Mark Meriaux, NSI accreditation and technical manager. Learning objectives for the day will include:
- Understand the key components to create an overall safety program.
- Gain insights into safe slab handling and reducing exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
- Discuss best practices for reducing RCS exposure through PPE, testing, engineering controls and housekeeping.
- Gain access to tools, documents and additional resources that will help build your comprehensive safety program.
In addition to informative presentations, each SIE event will allow time for interaction among participates, as well as sponsors. There will also be a tour of each host company’s facility.
“Stone World is thrilled to once again collaborate with the Natural Stone Institute to present our Stone Industry Education events,” said Janelle Minghine, Stone World publisher. “We encourage fabricators and stone professionals from across the U.S. to join us as our guest at an event in your area. These hands-on sessions will address key industry challenges, offer technical advice and provide valuable tips and tricks to help enhance and expand your fabrication business.”
The following is the complete list of 2025 SIE events:
Rod Sigman CTC, CCTS, CSMTT is the business development leader for MAPEI Corporation’s UltraCare® line of products for the care and maintenance of tile and stone products. Sigman has a proven track-record of success in the flooring industry, with experience in both training and education, as well as all support functions pertaining to national sales accounts and distribution. He has served on the technical committees of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Natural Stone Institute (NSI). He has successfully completed the Ceramic Tile Consultant Course, is a Certified Ceramic Tile Specialist (CCTS) and is also a Concrete Slab Moisture Testing (CSMT) Technician. Further, he was recognized by the Marble Institute of America (now the Natural Stone Institute) as a significant influence for the stone industry.
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