Members are always asking me about training opportunities. Well, this month I wanted to promote regional training. At the start of the year, NTCA announced that it would offer regional day-long events in each of its 12 regions throughout 2018. As we close in on the midway point of the year, NTCA Training Director Mark Heinlein has been traveling the country training NTCA members on one of two topics. Depending on location, he could be leading a day- long training in Industry Standards/ Substrate Prep/Large-Format Tile or Gauged Porcelain Tile/Panels. Industry Standards/Surface Prep Large-Format Tile The Industry Standards/Surface Prep/Large-Format Tile session starts with classroom lessons on tile industry methods and standards using ANSI resources. From there, class members learn how to use and navigate the TCNA Handbook. The attendees spend the rest of the day in a physical, hands-on work- ing setting. Heinlein works with the class to check substrate flatness on floors and walls, general examina- tion of framing systems, and proper installation of cementitious backer units. He then reviews various sur- face prep methods before releasing the attendees to work with the prep materials. Attendees are teamed into small groups to explore proper materials and tools for patching and render- ing a vertical substrate to meet industry tolerance for large-format tile. The small groups then experi- ment with and pour self-leveling underlayment (SLU). When all substrates have been properly prepared and flattened, the class advances to proper mor- tar selection, mixing, trowel selec- tion, mortar coverage, and instal- lation techniques for large-format tile. When this event was held in Portland, Ore., Dirk Sullivan, owner of Hawthorne Tile, sent 10 installers with various levels of knowledge. Sullivan stated, “Training and edu- cation are key to the success of my company, and more importantly, the industry as a whole. The region- NTCA UNIVERSITY UPDATE ––––––––––––– By Becky Serbin, Training and Education Coordinator Regional Training Event mid-year wrap up 84 TileLetter | June 2018