membership does not just mean that you have paid your dues; we are seeking out leaders who get involved and want to help shape our Industry. That’s why you will always see our Five Star Contractors out in force at events like TISE West, Coverings, and Total Solutions Plus. Professionalism – Exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and gen- erally businesslike manner in the workplace. This sums up how you do business as a whole. We request resumes for your designated company rep- resentative as well as a project manager to help us understand the background of your company. The backbone of all companies is their employees and we want to know that you value them and invest in them. That’s why we require that you have an active Safety Program as well as an Employee Manual/ Handbook. Each day contractors need to interact with many partners such as material manufacturers and distributors. Successfully navigat- ing these relationships is impera- tive, so we require that you gather three reference letters from your vendors/suppliers attesting to your professionalism in the tile indus- try. How your client sees you is the best judge of all, so we also require three letters of recommen- dation from your client base such as architects, designers, general contractors, or owners. Craftsmanship – One who creates or performs with skill and dexterity especially in the manual arts. Now we address the heart of our contractors – the artisans. It is our belief that it takes one to know one, so two letters of recommen- dations from peers or competitors are required. Since our group encompasses national membership, we needed to find a way to evaluate skill level. To that end, it was decided that at least 10% of your field installers must be Certified Tile Installers through the CTEF or have complet- ed a three-year apprenticeship pro- gram approved by the Department of Labor. Although it is required that 10% be certified, many of our Five Star Contractors have fully embraced this program and are far above the minimum needed. The Five Star Contractor Group is comprised of contractors of all sizes and specialties but what they all have in common is an unwavering drive to exceed expectations, upholding the highest technical standards, and providing impeccable quality and service. Because of this commitment to excellence on every level, I see our group as industry leaders who are creating the change we want to see in our industry. It is my hope that others see our efforts and are inspired to join us. If you would like additional information about the NTCA Five Star Program, please reach out to me at amber@tile-assn.com. FIVE STAR CONTRACTOR UPDATE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 114 TileLetter | January 2018