MAPEI Corporation will sponsor the 2010 Pinnacle Awards from the Marble Institute of America (MIA).

The Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based arm of the MAPEI Group will be the overall sponsor of the decade-old awards program that honors natural-stone companies, architects and designers worldwide in the residential, commercial and renovation sectors.

In the competition, a panel of architects judges the entries and presents Pinnacle Awards and merit awards to the best in each of four categories.

"We believe sponsorship of the Pinnacle Awards is an outstanding opportunity to recognize the architects, contractors and artisans in the stone industry for projects that show all the impressive beauty of natural stone," said Michael Micalizzi, head of Technical Services for MAPEI Corporation USA.

"I am delighted that MAPEI has agreed to sponsor the MIA Pinnacle Awards," said Brett Rugo, MIA president. "It is only fitting that this premier supplier has agreed to sponsor these prestigious awards. Our firm has won many Pinnacle Awards, and MAPEI’s product line has played a major role in our success."

The best-of-show Grande Pinnacle Award, given by the judges, will continued to be sponsored by the Marmomacc stone event in Verona, Italy.

The call for the 2010 Pinnacle Awards will be issued next month, with entries due in mid-summer.

The MAPEI Group, headquartered in Milan, Italy, is a single-source supplier of setting materials for commercial, industrial and residential projects. The firm services more than 50,000 customers worldwide with 56 associated manufacturing plants operating in 25 countries, including 18 manufacturing facilities in the Americas.