Jim Callaghan, vp of sales at Marmo Machinery USA, plans to speak at a series of Marble Institute of America educational seminars that his company is sponsoring. Called the MIA Natural Stone Continuing Education Program, the seminars, which are held on a regional basis, aim to train architects, interior designers, contractors and stone industry employees on different facets of the industry.

Southfield, Mich.-based Marmo Machinery, a distributor of precision machinery to process marble and granite, will sponsor the Institute's regional one-day seminars through March 2006, with stops in Phoenix; Austin; Boston; St. Cloud, Minn.; and Seattle.

"I am very pleased and excited to be involved in this worthwhile program," Callaghan said. "Education is key to becoming competitive and successful in the North American stone industry, especially against the backdrop of worldwide competition."