The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) recently named Martin Brookes its 2020 Tile Person of the Year as well as the organization’s President for 2021 and 2022. The announcements were made by Bart Bettiga, Executive Director of NTCA, at NTCA’s annual meeting, held virtually on December 3.

Bettiga explained that the award had traditionally been given at the Coverings trade show, but that was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Brookes showed the Tile Person of the Year award -- which he had received by mail -- to the video audience, saying, “I am humbled and honored to receive this award and be recognized by my peers in an industry I have been active in for almost 40 years. It’s a privilege to be so recognized by my colleagues and friends. I am overwhelmed. Thank you.”

Bettiga explained the Brookes was being recognized for 10 years of work for NTCA behind the scenes, and that accepting the role as president is a commitment for another 10 years of service. NTCA presidents move up through the chairs in two-year term increments, from 2nd Vice President to 1st Vice President to President, and then serve two years as Chairman of the Board, and afterwards as Advisory Board members.

Brookes has built a resume of achievements and activities that represent commitment and passion for the tile and stone industry. His career began in England in 1978 when he attended the Chesterfield College of Technology, earning a City and Guilds of London Institute diploma in Masonry Construction. Brookes left the United Kingdom for San Francisco in 1994, where he started work for a masonry company as superintendent and, in 1997, obtained a California State License for Masonry (C29) and Tile (C54).

In 1996, Brookes became a principal at Heritage Marble & Tile, a premiere tile installation company with a focus on detail, in Mill Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Brookes is committed to his installers’ training through continuing education and product manufacturer seminars.

Heritage employs Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) Certified Tile Installers (CTIs) with Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) crew members. The company is a current member of the National Tile Contractors Association Five-Star contractor group of elite tile installation contractors. Heritage Marble & Tile is known throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for quality installations and being willing to take on the most challenging projects.

Brookes is a Recognized Industry Consultant and currently sits on the NTCA Technical Committee as part of the Methods and Standards Committee, and serves on the ANSI A108 Committee. He is a member of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification as an Inspector for stone and ceramic tile.

Brookes served as Regional Director for NTCA from 2012 – 2015, as well as the National Tile Contractors Association Membership Committee Chairperson. He served as Stone Ceramic Inspector Chair for the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification from 2011 – 2019.

Family is also very important to Brookes, who stated, “I have been blessed working in an industry that I love and to have a family that has supported my professional career. My wife Carmen is a Professor of Psychology at UCSF and has also had a successful career in research. My children Joseph and Chloe make me proud everyday with their accomplishments.”

See the video of Brookes accepting his award and chronicling his career at: https://youtu.be/kf9h746s8Tw

The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is a non-profit trade association serving every segment of the industry, spearheading education for the professional installation of ceramic tile, natural stone and allied products. For more information, please contact NTCA executive director Bart Bettiga at bart@tile-assn.com, via telephone at (601) 939-2071, or visit www.tile-assn.com.