Greetings, and welcome to fall. Autumn around these parts means warm days and crisp nights, with fluffy clouds floating in impossi- bly blue skies arched over golden hillsides. There is the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (put this on your bucket list!) and the scent of roast- ing green chiles, and well, the fla- vor of pumpkin spice everywhere. I hope it’s a beautiful fall where you are. This issue is jam-packed with compelling content for your edi- fication and enjoyment. There’s a distinct focus this issue on the women in our industry, from our cover story to member spotlight to Training and Education feature to our Women in Tile story. The pur- pose of this focus is to celebrate the many women who are excel- ling with stellar skills and stunning work in what has been traditionally a male-dominated industry. It’s also to spread the word to those women who may be considering a career in our industry, that there is a wel- come place for them in a variety of roles here, including tile setter. As NTCA member Paige Pomerene of P2 Customs in Herndon, Va., said in our feature story, ““Whether you’re male or female, or what- ever you identify as, your skills are measured by your passion and the pride you take in your work.” That’s exactly right, and among the many skilled and passionate women and men in our industry who are con- stantly raising the bar and advanc- ing its excellence, we recognize this group of women as being a valued part of the fold. Our Training and Education feature looks at the emphasis on apprenticeship at Dragonfly Tile and Stone Works and the impor- tance of custom tailoring train- ing of the company’s setters. We’ll also meet Maria Meyer, one of Dragonfly’s newest apprentices, who left her college studies to pursue the artistry and precision in the craft that is a hallmark of Dragonfly’s reputation. In our Business Tip, productivity expert Barbara Hemphill has some words of wisdom about records management and “clearing the clutter” from office files and docu- ments. Whether paper or digital, information can pile up and over- whelm you fast, so without a strate- EDITOR’S LETTER Lesley A. Goddin “Hiring and promoting talented women is the right thing to do for society – and it’s an economic imperative.” – Carlos Ghosn, Chairman, Renault-Nissan Alliance 12 TileLetter | October 2018