b'NEWSdential construction industry in theMarkhasspentthepastdecade stateof Washingtonoverthelastexpanding the market footprint for 20 years. The $187 million expan- a local Boston-based surface prep-sionwillincreaseJamesHardiesarationmanufacturer.Afi xture manufacturing capacity and capa- inthefl oorcoveringinstallation bilityinthePacifi cNorthwesttoindustry,Markhasalsoworked keep pace with continued growth.as a sales executive and manager The400,000-square-footfacil- forthreedifferentmanufacturers itywillhelpthecompanymeetofadhesives,powders,tileprod-thedemandsofbothtodayanducts, tools, and sundry installation thefuturethroughincreasedpro- products.ductionandeffi ciencyimprove-ments.Upto240jobswillbeSecond Obra Blanca Expo is set addedintimetotheregion.Tofor October 13-15 in Mexico Citygettheprojectofftheground, theDepartmentofCommerce provideda$100,000Working Washington grant to the Economic DevelopmentBoardforTacoma-PierceCountytoreimbursesomeThe second Obra Blanca Expo is of the companys pre-constructionscheduledforExpoSantaFein costs.WashingtonGovernorJayCDMX, October 13-15. Last years Inslee, U.S. Representative Dennyinauguralshowencompassed Heck, and Pierce County offi cialsmorethan16,000squaremeters helped commemorate the accom- ofexhibitionspace,withmore plishment.than80exhibitorsand10,000 visitors.Over390B2Bbusiness Mark Parets joins W.J. Grosvenormeetingswereaccomplished,as &Co.Inc.W.J.Grosvenor&wellaskeynotes,roundtables, Co.,Inc.,alead- internationalforums.Thisyears ingdistributorinevent will build on fi rst-year suc-NewEngland,hascess,expandingtofi vepillarsof hired Mark Parets asthe show: OB Expo; OB Experts; itsnewDirectorofOBSpaces;OBMeetings;and Sales.Parets,withOB Experiences. In its fi rst edition more than three decades of expe- Obra Blanca Expo was a success-rience in the fl oor covering instal- fulmeetingwiththreefulldays lation industry, began his career atof events designed specifi cally to his familys sales agency, Raznick- enhance relations and strengthen Faulkner, Inc. (RF). In addition tothe network. It was an event with his work with RF (now dissolved),addedvalueforvisitors,where 104 TileLetter | April 2020'