in 2000, we had 400 members, I have learned a lot from people like John Cox, Nyle Wadford and Dan Welch. I looked up to my dad of course but the “older” guys back then like Tom Ade, Gene Weiss and Paul Sherba helped guide us young pups. Our business has grown because of the many things I have learned through the NTCA, the networking, the seminars and most important, the smartest and best tile contractors in the world. I can safely tell everyone that Artcraft’s return on investment (ROI), both monetarily and in terms of time, has been the best investment our 81-year-old company has made. Gerald Zakim Gerald Zakim Associates LLC I participated in the original work- shops. Six or seven of us would meet at the scheduled workshop: Joe Tarver, Tom Cassutt, Jamie Munce, Paul Dinkel, Leigh Hightower, and Steve Young. We spent the rest of the week going from town to town in the motor home, as we proudly watched our- selves improve our presentations. That was a pleasure. Now picture six or seven men all week eating pulled pork and whatever else they served, sleeping in the motor home with the windows shut after being on that diet for several days in a closed vehicle. Well, I remember so clearly hearing complaints – some screams, some cursing like “Get out or open the window!” for several nights. We had a lot of laughs out of that and spending all that time together; we learned a lot to carry on our mission. It was a strong camaraderie. We had many large workshops ranging from 10 to over 100 attendees. Many won- derful memories fill my head, not the least of which is catching red fish on our several fish- ing journeys in the Gulf and watching Joe negotiate with the restaurants to sneak fish in since catching and eat- ing red fish was against the law. I believe we generously gave to the industry while continuously help- ing the industry. (l. to r.) Bob Young, Bob Wright, Joe Tarver, Butch Woelfel, and Tommy Cox in 1985. James (l.) and his father Butch (r.) Woelfel of Artcraft Granite Marble and Tile Co., accept an award presented by NTCA executive direc- tor emeritus Joe Tarver at Coverings 2017 for their family’s dedication to the industry. Gerald Zakim with NTCA trainer/ presenter Mark Heinlein at a recent workshop in Lyndhurst, N.J. A group of men touring the country in an RV made for some raucous stories. Gerald Zakim at a workshop in 1982 Celebrating 70 years 100 TileLetter | September 2017