News Release

[FHueston@zzzzzzz]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike  Wilson
Wilson  Communications
248)  789-8972
International  Stone Institute Established
To Serve STONE INDUSTRY
New Independent  Organization to Fill Void for Education,
Standards, Technical  Help and Information
_www.internationalstoneinstitue.com_
( http://www.internationalstoneinstitue.com/)

Asheville, NC, Dec. 17th, 2004  -  The International Stone Institute (ISI)
has been established to help fill  a much-needed void for those companies and
individuals who design, install,  fabricate, restore and/or maintain dimensional
stone and other stone products  for the construction industry.
The announcement was made today by Fred Hueston, head of the National
Training Center (NTC) for Stone and Masonry Trades, Asheville, North Carolina,  in a
letter to members of the dimensional stone, quartz surfaces and engineered
stone industry.
ISI contracted with Hueston and the NTC  to manage the new association.  Mr.
Hueston will act as the Executive Director of ISI. NTC is the only training
center for dimensional and engineered stone in the U.S. and is well respected
in  the industry. â??I am very excited about this new association and my
position as  the Executive Director, ISI is solely focused on advancing the industry
and  helping promote the use of stone, engineered stone and fill a void in the
 industryâ?? said Hueston.
â??The void is education, practical standards, useful information and
technical help in dealing with issues and problems confronting our industry,â??
explained Hueston, who is also a syndicated columnist and home repair  expert.
â??There are 50,000 or more businesses in the U.S. alone involved in the
stone, tile and engineered stone industry, yet there is no single organization
that meets the needs of these businesses and the entire stone industry,â?? he
said.
â??We plan to offer a long line of useful benefits that will more than pay  for
the membership dues, which are being offered at a reasonable cost.  The most
important benefit is that we  will listen to your suggestions and try our best
to implement your  ideas.â??
Members also will be asked to help in establishing good, sound standards  and
procedures for the industry, added Hueston.
The benefits being offered include some that are new to the industry,
including a Worker Exchange Program, Worker Certification and  Customer Leads.
The Worker Exchange  Program, for example, will make skilled labor available
to members on a  loan basis from other cooperating members.
The Certification Program  is available through the IICRC Hard Surface
Inspection Committee, of which ISI  affiliate NTC is a member.  ISI also  offers its
own certification program with certifications in Stone Fabrication,  Interior
Stone Restoration and Preservation, and Stone  Inspector.
Other benefits include:
·        Discounts on  publications.  NTC publishes and  handles the largest
selection of publications and videos on stone and tile  design, installation,
fabrications, restoration and maintenance in the  industry.
·        Seminar  programs.  ISI through NTC will  offer more seminars and
training programs than any other association in the  industry, and at a discount
to members.  NTC is the only industry organization with a complete training
facility  that has over $500,000 in equipment for training from the basics to
CNC  technology.
·        Unlimited access to  the ISI on-line library, one of the most
complete in the Stone Industry.  Currently over 40 technical papers are  available,
ranging from stone fabrication and restoration to OSHA  reports.
·        Consulting services  available at a discount.
·        Internet listing on  the ISI interactive web site for rapid location
by potential customers.  The web site also provides access to  over 21,000
archived questions and answers in its  forum.
·        Insurance packages  will be offered, covering everything from
liability and health to  retirement.
·        Resource Directory,  an annual publication listing all members that
is included in many NTC  publications.
·        Membership  Certification and Membership Card issued to all ISI
members.
·        Monthly email updates  and technical tips from ISI.
·        ISI seal of approval  awarded to member companies whose products
meet ISI's strict requirements.  Interested companies should contact ISI  for
submission information.
·        OSHA compliance  assistance will also be provided to members, as
well as help in preparing for  OSHA inspections.
For additional information contact the  International Stone Institute, 70
Westside Drive, Asheville, NC 28806;  telephone; 828-255-4510; fax: 828-255-4513;
or visit the ISI website at: _www.internationalstoneinstitute.com_
( http://www.internationalstoneinstitute.com/) .
â??Out of the Stone Age  and into the 21st Centuryâ??
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