members who pay their own expenses and sacrifice time with their families to see the important work of the associa- tion professionally and timely done. Faithful members who support NTCA and its efforts for training and educa- tion, in good times and bad. Associate members who contributed products, money and time of their employees in support of NTCA programs. Sponsors who give generously to make pos- sible pertinent, essential and critical association meetings and programs. Advertisers who recognize the impor- tance and value of NTCA publications for themselves, their customers and potential customers. I do want to acknowledge the con- tributions of all ‘Tile Persons of the Year,’ ‘Ring of Honor,’ ‘The Joe A. Tarver Lifetime Achievement Award,’ and ‘The NTCA Five Star Contractors’ for their past and continuing contri- butions. I also want to recognize my business associates and good friends – the NTCA staff. They have consis- tently pushed NTCA to higher and higher levels of excellence. What they continue to accomplish makes everything I have done meaningful and worthwhile. It was a challenging and difficult journey from a small 13-state regional group, with little money and no assets, to a national association with interna- tional ties and recognition. Above all other things, NTCA played a key role in uniting a once divided and fragmented industry, witnessed by the participation of domestic and foreign industry associations in Total Solutions and Coverings. Those who walked the path with us know who you are and how deeply we appreciate you and the part you played in this wonderful journey. I’m indebted to the officers, board of directors, com- mittees, staff and members, past and present, for their passion, dedication, participation and services for further- ing the important work of The National Contractors Association, of which I have been so privileged to be a part. Bart Bettiga NTCA Executive Director Excitement and simultaneous fear are what comes to mind when I think about accepting the position of NTCA Executive Director in 2002. Everyone told me what big shoes I had to fill in replacing industry icon Joe Tarver, who ran NTCA for 30 years. But with Joe’s helpful guidance, the support of a great staff, and the volunteer lead- ership of a strong executive commit- tee and board of directors, we have been able to build from the founda- tion established by Joe and others before him. Today, the NTCA is flourishing because of the dedication and lead- ership provided by our contractor and associate members, as well as a uniquely-talented and hard-work- ing staff serving both association and industry needs. We now have employ- ees in 10 states, and they do a won- derful job in promoting the associa- tion at every opportunity at the local, state, regional and national level. We have developed new goals to make an international impact, and as our membership nears an all time high of 1,500, we are looking optimistically to a bright future. Celebrating 70 years 92 TileLetter | September 2017