The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has announced plans for a Women in Stone Connection Conference to be held in conjunction with The International Surface Event East/StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas/Tile Expo (TISE East) in Miami on Sunday, Oct.19. The program will feature speakers including Lisbeth Calandrino, Toby Morrison, Dave Mitchell, and a panel discussion of key women in our industry.

This conference will discuss the process of building relationships with customers, colleagues, and co-workers, according to the association. Each item on the agenda will focus on the opportunities and challenges women face in the industry.  Attendance at this leadership summit will award participants the following learning objectives:

• Learn how to take advantage of your assets to make your way in the business world.

• Review today’s building industry statistics and how key demographic factors affect your customer's decision to buy.

• Discuss factors that affect women in the stone industry including working with family members and managing men.

• Assess your personal leadership style and find out how to present information about ideas, products and/or services in a manner that is most engaging to those with a different interactive style than your own.

“The Connection Conference is the first education event held by Women In Stone,” says Sarah Kelly, administrator of the MIA initiative. “This event will help serve our primary goals to recruit, retain, and advance women in the stone industry.”

Women in Stone member, Jacqueline Tabbah of International Stoneworks in Houston added, “"the Women In Stone Connection Conference is an excellent opportunity for professional women in this industry to learn and network with one another. I am thrilled to be part of the panel discussion and share my point of view with this prestigious group of ladies."

For a complete schedule of events and to register for the Women In Stone Connection Conference event, please visit marble-institute.com/education/