EDITOR'S LETTER ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– gy, you may find yourself drowning in information and slowing down your productivity. We learn a little more about Vashon, Wash., tilesetter and art- ist extraordinaire Nadine Edelstein and her three businesses in our Member Spotlight story, and how she conceptualizes and crafts her remarkable creations. In Tech Talk, we get an inside view of the first domestic producer of gauged porcelain tile panels – Stone Peak, part of the Iris Group, located in Crossville, Tenn. The manufacturer had a grand open- ing of its new production line in September, and TileLetter was there to report firsthand. In Hot Topics, consultant Steve Rausch asks the question, “Are product and installation standards ‘carrots’ to encourage improve- ment, or, ‘sticks’ to beat you with about failures?” Hear what indus- try members have to say and send your own opinion to me at lesley@tile-assn.com There’s also an opportunity to help one of our own, NTCA member Andrey Zelenko of Evergreen Tile & Stone LLC in Gladstone, Ore., who suffered serious injuries and lost his wife in a tragic boating incident on the Columbia River. A Go Fund Me account has been set up for those who want to support his recovery; details are in our Helping Hands feature. Here at NTCA, we are prepared for Total Solutions Plus in Grapevine, Texas at the end of the month, Oct 27-31. I hope to see many of you there! For last minute information, visit www.tile-assn.com/ page/tsp. God bless, Lesley lesley@tile-assn.com www.tilecareer.com The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation provides education and installer certifica- tion for professionals working in the ce- ramic tile and stone industry. Our installer certification program is the only third-party assessment of installer skill and knowledge. Visit our website for more information. Why CTI? 14 TileLetter | October 2018