JACKSON, MISS.—With Coverings ’08 just around the corner, the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is preparing for the show with live demonstrations, conference seminars, a Harley Davidson giveaway, two booths, the 5th Annual TileLetter Awards and more.

NTCA training director Gerald Sloan and regional director Dan Welch will be on the installation stage seven times during the course of the market, covering topics such as large-format tile installations, grout width recommendations, lippage and critical lighting effects on tile installations.

NTCA will also hold a Contractors Forum on Technical Topics on Wed., April 30, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. James Woelfel, chairman of NTCA’s technical committee, will act as moderator, with board members John Cox, Bob Scavone and Nyle Wadford on the panel.

The next day at 5 p.m., the TileLetter Awards will honor this year’s outstanding installations. In addition, winners of the NTCA/Clear Seas Research Survey will be recognized. The event, co-hosted by the Tile Council of North America, will also recognize the Tile Council Tile Person of the Year.

NTCA will honor David and Harold Yarborough, and Cindy Bell of D&B Tile, as well as Betty Ann Yarborough for their families’ contributions to the tile industry, with the presentation of the Joe A. Tarver Cornerstone Award.

In addition to Coverings, NTCA is working on a number of other projects. A professional membership video will be unveiled at the show. As well, the NTCA Partnering For Success program is back in 2008 and available for both new and existing members. This program, where valuable voucher coupons are dispensed to paying members, has been extremely popular, noted Bart Bettiga, NTCA’s executive director. So too is the NTCA Profit Survey, free to all NTCA members, where contractors can compare their financial data to the industry and learn important information about their business.

Finally, plans are being made for NTCA’s upcoming conference, Total Solutions 2008, which will be held Sept. 18 and 19 in Washington, D.C.

For more on the NTCA, call 601.939.2071.