StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and SURFACES are committed to promoting a comprehensive education program for floor covering and stone professionals. StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and SURFACES is now accepting submissions for the 2012 educational program. 

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas | SURFACES provides an excellent opportunity and venue to showcase the latest industry updates and educational advances for the floor covering and stone markets.

Dates:
Education: January 23-26, 2012
Exhibits: January 24-26, 2012
Location: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas Nevada

Audience:
The audience of the educational program includes: retailers, distributors, fabricators, installers, contractors, designers, architects and more.

Courses:
Session format will be either three hours, 90-minutes or 60-minutes. All 3-hour workshops will be held on Monday, January 23rd; 90-minute seminars will be offered Tuesday, January 24th through Thursday, January 26th; and 1-hour mini sessions will be offered on Tuesday, January 24th and Wednesday, January 25th. Presenters must be available to present on any day of the conference program. Program submissions must not be presented at any other industry event 9-months prior to scheduled date of program at SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and must include the latest industry updates.

Submission Deadline: Friday, March 11, 2011. Submit your presentation here.

StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas | SURFACES education committee members are looking for un-biased, well-defined programs from presenters with a firm understanding of the flooring and stone industries and the challenges industry professionals encounter regularly.  Additionally, core topics should include and will be reviewed based on the following:
• Relevance to the industry
• Overall quality of the submission (incomplete submission will not be reviewed)
• Practical application of ideas
• Interactive sessions that stimulate and provide attendees with new skills or processes
• Business management practices
• Presenters with strong speaking experience and in-depth knowledge of subject proposed
• Product pitches and niche focused topics relevant to a small audience will not be reviewed
• Sessions must be eligible for submission for continuing education credits.

Educational tracks will include:
• Business - human resources, money management and leadership skills
• Sales - client relationships, service, profitability and productivity
• Marketing - advertising, industry research, merchandising, marketing plans and public relations
• Flooring Installation - best practices, improved techniques and industry updates
• Fabrication/Installation - best practices, improved techniques and industry updates
• Care/Maintenance/Restoration - best practices, improved techniques and industry updates
• Building Design & Trends - use of materials in building applications, product and industry trends and design theory

The 2012 Education Advisory Councils will review the proposed topics based on the criteria listed above. Final acceptance will be based on (but not limited to) the course's ability to meet submission criteria. All approved courses will be submitted for continuing education. Handouts will be provided to attendees electronically and must be submitted to the SURFACES | StonExpo Marmomacc Americas Conference Manager, in advance, by a deadline date to be provided.

Deadline for submissions is Friday,  March 11, 2011. Final selections will be made by June 2011.