FIVE STAR CONTRACTOR UPDATE ––––––––– The building blocks of a NTCA Five Star Contractor By Amber Fox, Five Star Program Director As I wrap up my first year on the job as the NTCA Five Star Contractor Program Director I have been reflecting on some of the items that we are implementing for 2018. One of the first items that comes to mind is the update to our application. This has great sig- nificance because it is essentially a roadmap on how to become a Five Star Contractor. Our new application incor- porates the building blocks to a Five Star Contractor: Integrity, Professionalism, and Craftsmanship. In order to build a firm founda- tion, your company culture must value continual investment in itself. So how do we find companies that have this culture imbedded on all levels, and how do we evalu- ate them for acceptance into our group? These are the questions we asked ourselves when we updated our application. I will touch upon some of the key elements of the application process in the hopes that you can recognize greatness in your own company, and if not that it can inspire you to rise to the challenge. Integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, and the state of being whole and undivided. All applicants must show proof that they are contracting under the local laws of their state, which means that they carry all licenses and insurance needed. Stability is important, which is why they must attest that for the last five years: 1. They have operated under the same company name 2. The company has not filed for bankruptcy 3. There have been no federal or state tax liens filed against the company 4. The company pays all federal, state and local payroll taxes, worker's compensation, unem- ployment, FICA, etc. for all employees. As a Five Star Contractor, you are part of something bigger, which is why you are also required to have been an active NTCA mem- ber for at least three years. Active 112 TileLetter | January 2018