(L-R) Jan Hohn, James Woelfel, Jeff McCammack, Rod Owen, Ed Strickland, and Michael Whistler

The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the largest tile contractors association in the world, presented five Best Practice Awards to select members during the NTCA’s annual Total Solutions Conference in September in San Antonio, Texas.

Best Practice Recognition was given in the following categories to contractors who are making a difference in their communities and by representing the National Tile Contractors Association as a strong “Voice of the Tile Contractor”.

• Best Practice Award, Commitment to Education:
Michael Whistler, Whistler Tile & Stone, Bigfork, Montana

Recognized for increasing the number of NTCA Workshops on the West Coast, exposing the NTCA to this key strategic area and recruiting new members in this region as well. Special future programs include a Spanish NTCA Workshop

• Best Practice Award, Community Support:
Ed Strickland, Tile Crafters, Apax, North Carolina

With assistance from NTCA Manufacturer Members, Ed Strickland spearheaded a remodeling project for the Life Transformation Center in New York. The Center is a home for men with a history of intense struggles that helps build a new life with a solid foundation in faith, education and ethical standards. Working with his sons and NTCA members, Ed was able to remodel the Center’s kitchen in just one day.

• Best Practice Award, Promoting the tile trades as a Career:
Rod Owen of CC Owen Tile, Jonesboro, Georgia

Recognizing a need for the attendance at the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia’s Exposition for Career Development, Rod initiated the creation of an NTCA Booth that would introduce Georgia students to the skilled trades of the ceramic tile and stone industry. Valuable information about the opportunities in the tile industry was provided not only by Rod, but other NTCA Members and Staff joined in the efforts.

• Best Practice Award, Safety Management:
Jeff McCammack, McCammack Tile, Indianapolis, Indiana

For three consecutive years, McCammack Tile has received the Zero Injury Award from the Metro Indianapolis Coalition for Construction Safety. McCammack Tile has also gone six consecutive years without and OSHA recordable, and is working on its seventh.

• Best Practice Award, Dedication to Standards and Methods:
James Woelfel, Artcraft Granite & Marble, Mesa, Arizona

For several years, James has dedicated himself to serving contractors behind the scenes by working hard on the development of standards and methods in the tile trade. He serves on the NTCA Technical Committee as well as chairs the Standards and Methods Committee. Under his leadership, the NTCA has collaborated with manufacturers on a number of important standards. And, he helped to organize an effort with the Tile Council of North America and the Marble Institute of America to develop a supplement to the TCA Handbook that will address natural stone installations; undoubtedly a very important document in development for the coming years.

• Best Practice Award, Certification Effort for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation:
Jan Hohn, Hohn & Hohn Tile, St. Paul, Minnesota

Recognized for her many efforts to organize and coordinate a certification program locally in Minneapolis, Jam has now reached out nationally recruiting contractors to not only certify themselves but to join the NTCA as well. Jan became the first NTCA female contractor to successfully pass the certification program. She was recently elected to the NTCA’S Board of Directors and currently serves on the Technical Committee; making a difference in the organization.

About NTCA

NTCA is a non-profit trade association serving every segment of the industry, spearheading education for the professional installation of ceramic tile 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.