USG's 'El Mero Mero Drywalero(TM)' Contest to Award $5,000 to the Top Drywaller in Chicago Area

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USG, the manufacturer of top-selling SHEETROCK^® Brand drywall and other high-quality finishing products for the construction and remodeling industries, will hold competitions in Chicago to identify and crown “EL MERO MERO DRYWALERO” (The Best of the Best Drywaller) in the city. First-place prize is $5,000 cash. USG’s “EL MERO MERO DRYWALERO” star drywaller competition will host seven events to identify the top drywaller in the Chicago area. The events will take place on the following dates and locations:

“USG is excited to introduce the first-of-its-kind drywall ‘EL MERO MERO DRWALERO’ competition in Chicago to honor and showcase the king of drywalling and all the top drywall professionals who utilize their top talents and skills every day in their trade”

-- Home Depot-Cicero - Wednesday, July 11th, 2007.
   2803 S. Cicero Ave., Cicero, IL 60804 - 7 AM to 12 PM.

-- Nex Gen - Wednesday, July 18th, 2007.
   160 Eisenhower Lane North, Lombard, IL 60148 - 2 PM to 7 PM.

-- Home Depot - North Avenue - Tuesday, July 24th, 2007.
   1232 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 - 7 AM to 12 PM.

-- Gypsum Supply - Wednesday, August 1st, 2007.
   195 South Porter Dr., Round Lake Beach, IL 60073- 2 PM to 7 PM.

-- CABS - Wednesday, August 8th, 2007.
   Plainfield Supply Yard, 1700 Division St., Plainfield, IL 60544 -
   2 PM to 7PM.

-- Home Depot (Cicero & Armitage) - Friday, August 10th, 2007.
   1919 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL 60639 - 7 AM to 12 PM.

-- Harrison Park - Sunday, August 19th, 2007.
   1824 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60608 - 1 PM to 5 PM.

Prizes:

$5,000 for 1st Place,
$2,500 for 2nd Place and
$1,000 for 3rd Place; plus hundreds of premiums for all participants.

“USG is excited to introduce the first-of-its-kind drywall ‘EL MERO MERO DRWALERO’ competition in Chicago to honor and showcase the king of drywalling and all the top drywall professionals who utilize their top talents and skills every day in their trade,” says Sergio Fernandez, manager of Emerging Markets, USG.

In addition to Chicago, the ‘EL MERO MERO DRYWALERO’ contest has been held in Los Angeles and Atlanta and will take place in Dallas during the months of September and October. “Bringing the ‘EL MERO MERO DRYWALERO’ contest to Chicago, our corporate headquarters’ back yard, is USG’s way of showing our commitment to Hispanics in the construction industry, recognizing their hard-work, and rewarding the most talented drywallers,” says Christina Sanders, Hispanic marketing events coordinator, USG.

All contestants must sign up on-site (in person) at event locations listed above. Registration per event is required one hour prior to the commencement of the competition.

The final “EL MERO MERO DRYWALERO FESTIVAL” will take place at Harrison Park – 1824 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60608. The final event grants a last chance for new competitors to participate and go to the championship and win the $5,000 prize. For more contest information, please visit www.merodrywalero.com

New contestants attending the final qualifying round – at Harrison Park – must arrive at 12 PM to gain entry into the championship. New contestants must sign up on-site (in person). The final championship round will take place from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Winners will be selected based on the following criteria: speed and accuracy. For competition details, visit www.merodrywalero.com

USG Corporation is a Fortune 500 manufacturer and distributor of high-performance building systems through its United States Gypsum Company, USG Interiors, Inc. and L&W Supply Corporation subsidiaries. Headquartered in Chicago, the company serves the residential and non-residential construction markets, repair and remodel construction markets, and industrial processes. USG’s wall, ceiling, flooring and roofing products provide leading-edge building solutions for customers, while L&W Supply center locations efficiently stock and deliver building materials nationwide. For additional information, visit the USG Web site at www.usg.com.