the installer, the CTI program is a boon to the installation com- pany. “We’ve been located by people across the country using the database through the CTEF and NTCA web- sites,” said Erin Albrecht, chief operations officer of J&R Tile in San Antonio, Texas. And every year the construction industry is recognizing certification as more important. Artcraft Granite, Marble & Tile Co. saw a huge financial benefit after receiving a request for certified install- ers. “Five years ago we had an owner call us and say, we’re looking for CTEF-certified install- ers and we can’t find anyone who knows what they’re doing,” said James Woelfel, Artcraft vice president and NTCA chairman of the board. “It generated at least a billion dollars worth of work over the last six years,” he said. Overall, certification raises the industry standard and encourages quality installation. “I think what we have seen is a dif- ferent culture of pro- fessionalism in the trade,” said Kevin Fox, president and owner of Fox Ceramic Tile, Inc., in St. Marys, Kan., and chair- man of the NTCA Methods and Standards Committee. “It took us a while to get a buy-in on it. We have a lot of installers that have been doing [installation] for 20 to 30 years, so it took me a while to convince them to validate their skills. We need those skills vali- dated as a company as we’re talk- ing to general contractors, espe- QUALIFIED LABOR ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Albrecht Woelfel Fox 44 TileLetter | March 2017