MEMBER SPOTLIGHT –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– that appear in the market that WILL make you the expert. Another valuable asset of being a NTCA member is the networking opportunities afforded through the association. Brett and I love to attend Surfaces/TISE West, Coverings, and I have been to Total Solutions Plus. These shows bring together all the most qualified and respected peo- ple from the tile industry to one place at the same time. This wealth of knowledge, by itself, is worth the trip to attend these shows. I found Brett watching the Certified Tile Installer exams at Surfaces/TISE West in Vegas. He will soon be taking the test himself to become certified. I told him, “I’m proud of you, and know you have the skills it takes to pass.” He said, “Yes, and we will find out if YOU have taught me right.” No pressure there. I have also been lucky to have invented a tool for the tile trade called the “Back Butter Buddy” – a lazy-Susan type device that fits atop a standard bucket and turns pieces of tile in an ergonomic way to reduce fatigue of arms, hands and wrists when back buttering. It’s espe- cially useful for larger format tile that can be challenging to handle. As I speak with younger install- ers at the shows, I tell them that if you have been in the trade long enough, you will think of some- thing that you personally do that enhances your installation experi- ence. I try to give them the con- fidence that if they invent some- thing, they should pursue it. I hope to stay healthy enough to remain in the tile trade for at least three more years so I can say that “I have been setting tile for 50 years.” I think that list of names is a very short one. Recent full bath remodel. 12”x 24” porcelain floor and walls. 62 TileLetter | November 2017