ogy. Our setters aren’t just asking our apprentices to make a standard cut. They are asking them to take three moldings or trims and to miter a frame molding, a quarter- round and a liner, all in line with each other for the same corner. If it comes back not quite right, then the setter says, ‘OK, come with me.’ Back to the ‘let them and then show them again’ method.” There’s a price tag with training this way – to allow failure to hap- pen and absorb the cost of it as part of the training process. “We have days when we tag a few hours as ‘non-billable’ (but still payable to the apprentice), because it was just one of those days. But it’s worth the cost to us to allow them to fail, to practice, and then ultimately to succeed.” Progress in the program is moni- tored simply by observations, feed- back and nudges to complete the online studies. “They know that their 6-, 9- and 12-month reviews – as well as their compensation – will be dependent on their prog- ress,” Jane said. Maria Meyer – from UWM to tile apprentice One of the apprentices currently in the program is Maria Meyer, 23, who hails from Mankato, Minn. She started out studying conser- vation sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (UWM), and in short order learned it really wasn’t her passion. High Quality Metal Trims and Pre-Molded Expansion Joints for all of Your Flooring Needs Call or click today! 800.236.5230 www.ceramictool.com Carpet/Vinyl Trim Reducers Reverse Trim Ceramic Tool MADE IN USA TRAINING & EDUCATION ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 58 TileLetter | October 2018