has grown from 200 attendees and a handful of table top presenters to over 600 attendees and 100 table top presenters. Congratulations NTCA on 70 years of successes. CTDA has enjoyed part- nering with you to make this great industry even better. Alan Kin Texrite technical services My introduction to Joe Tarver / the NTCA goes back to the early 1980s. It was impor- tant to know that there was a group that could share informa- tion and partner with manufactur- ers in providing the best techniques and installation for the tile installers. It was also impres- sive to see that with the cooperative partnering nature with companies/ manufacturers that even competing manufacturers would be willing to show and did demonstrate other com- petitor’s products in the efforts to provide industry knowledge to the tile installers. These levels of coop- erative exchange with NTCA among material manufacturers, tile contrac- tors and others makes the industry better. These efforts of sharing and spreading knowledge continues now. You are greatly appreciated from the beginning founder Joe Tarver and to the entire current staff today in maintaining the same shared vision. Congratulations NTCA on your 70th anniversary! Dan Welch Welch Tile & Marble This year is a momentous one for both NTCA, and Welch Tile & Marble. As NTCA celebrates its 70th anniversary, Welch Tile celebrates our 30th year in business – and we are still learning together. The relationship between Welch Tile and NTCA has been – and contin- ues to be – a bright spot in my profes- sional career: a true win/win. Evolving products, people, and processes pro- vide opportunity for improvement; change is inevitable and those who embrace change will last the test of time. NTCA and Welch are currently on the constant-improvement track and it shows. Welch and NTCA are both involved in building culture. Giving back rewards the team that stays on course. In 2011, CTDA partnered with NTCA, TCNA and TCAA to create the Total Solutions Plus – annual tile and stone industry networking and educational event. Pictured (l. to r.) at the TSP 2014 in San Antonio are: Ron Schwartz, J. Colavin & Son (TCAA president); NTCA executive director Bart Bettiga, TCNA executive director Eric Astrachan and CTDA executive director Rick Church. Celebrating 70 years 104 TileLetter | September 2017