at the Bricklayers and Allied Crafts (BAC) Training Center in New Berlin, Wis. Two distinct train- ing tracks were offered: Portland Cement Mortar Beds (with NTCA trainer/presenter Robb Roderick helping administer that program) and Gauged Porcelain Tile/Panels, with Mark Heinlein helping pres- ent that program. Registrations were held to 20 persons in each track so as to afford an excellent training opportunity and appro- priate instructor-to-trainee ratio to ensure quality learning in a hands-on environment. Preparing for the event was a challenging endeavor requiring much planning and coordination. The event would not have been successful without the tremendous level of help and support from many volunteer trainers in each training session. NTCA member contractors, manufacturers, dis- tributors and the BAC all stepped up to provide products, trainers, and a facility for training. The NTCA’s driving objective was to ensure that attendees learned standards-based skills and techniques they could take onto their next jobsite to improve their understanding of industry stan- dards, increase their skill range, and open doors with new skill sets and concepts to improve job per- formance and increase earnings potential. With both tracks filled to capac- ity, participants felt their training Doug Lindemann of Bostik (green shirt) explains the requirement for a flat sub- strate and describes the process of prepar- ing a substrate for a self-leveling underlay- ment (SLU) installation. Ryan Frietag of Donnelly/Raimondi (right) stands ready with the Raimondi mixer to properly mix the SLU for the installation. Starting the Gauged Porcelain Tile Panel track with Mark Heinlein. Scoring the GPTP with Eric Owen of Crossville. Transporting Laminam by Crossville gauged porcelain tile to a table supplied by Raimondi USA. –––––––––––––––––––– NTCA UNIVERSITY UPDATE / NTCA BENEFITS BOX TileLetter | December 2017 101