Creativity is afoot when it comes to training the next generation to enter the tile trade. Oregon tile contractors and NTCA members (and some soon-to-be-members) are partnering in a unique co-op concept that provides monthly training for apprentices and differ- ent levels of involve- ment for co-op mem- bers. Participants in the co-op – named the Oregon- Columbia Tile Trades Training Trust – are HawthorneTile,Davis Solutions, Stoneman Construction LLC, Campbell’s Custom Tile, Prestige Tile & Stone, Inc., Level Plane Tile & Stone, Columbia River Tile, Classique Floors & Tile, Sustainable Interiors, Designer Floors & Interiors, LLC and AHMS, Inc. The concept devel- oped when proj- ect manager Shon Parker and owner/project manag- er Dirk Sullivan from NTCA Five Star Contractor Hawthorne Tile in Portland, Ore., started brainstorm- ing about how to get more quali- fied help in the field. Parker took the lead in conceptualizing an affordable apprenticeship program TRAINING & EDUCATION ––––––––––––– Inventive Oregon contractors form co-op apprenticeship program Program kicks off September 2018 By Lesley Goddin (L to R) Lara Walker, Dirk Sullivan and Shon Parker from Hawthorne Tile got the ball rolling to develop a unique co-op training concept in the Portland area – the Oregon- Columbia Tile Trades Training Trust. 62 TileLetter | July 2018