MIA+BSI announced that three individuals have been elected to the thirteen-person MIA Board of Directors. These individuals will also serve on the transitional MIA+BSI Board of Directors during the second year of the joint venture.
Duane Naquin, CEO of Stone Interiors, an MIA Accredited fabrication /installation company in Gaston, SC, will represent Zone 3 (Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Naquin is an MIA+BSI CEU speaker, Women in Stone mentor, and is actively involved in the education program. Naquin replaces Jon Lancto, who will remain on the board as 2017 MIA President.
Herwig Callewier, Chairman of Beltrami N.V., a natural stone producer and wholesale company located in Belgium, will represent Zone 10 (Europe). Callewier is founding member and now president of Febenat, an association which furthers the natural stone industry in Belgium and Holland. He is also involved with the WTCB Belgian Technical Institute’s stone committee and the World Natural Stone Association. Callewier replaces Claus Larsen (DANSK Srl), who served on the MIA Board for five years.
Ali Kader, President and CEO of Egy-Mar International, a quarry and supply company based in Egypt in Dubai, will represent Zone 11 (Africa, Asia, Australia, Middle East, and Philippines). Kader is the founding member of the World Natural Stone Association and has been involved with the Egypt Expo & Convention Authority, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, Marble Sector, and the Marble & Granite Investors Association. Kader replaces Arik Grebelsky (A.Grebelsky & Son), who served on the MIA Board for five years.
2016 MIA President David Castellucci (Kenneth Castellucci & Associates) expressed his gratitude to the two outgoing board members, saying: “We are most appreciative of the work done by both Claus and Arik during their time on the MIA Board of Directors. With their help, we have made great strides to become a more inclusive and international association. We welcome the three new board members and look forward to what the future will bring for our combined organization.”