MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ——————————— sponsored by You never know when the tile setting bug is going to bite. For instance, Ulas Maris of Maris Tile PRO in East Moriches, N.Y. (www. maristile.com) didn’t start his career in the industry. Instead, he was originally in hospitality, hotel and resort administration in Southwest Florida, years before he left his position and moved to New York in search of a new career and life. He tried his hand at a number of things, but nothing clicked until one serendipitous morning while he was having breakfast out in Long Island. A tile setter working nearby randomly asked if he could help mix mud and carry tiles. “It was fun working with him in the Hamptons and I liked it,” Maris said. “I started going with him reg- ularly and he taught me everything he knew about the tiling trade. It is how my tiling career started a long time ago. I worked with him about three or four years and he encour- aged me to start my own business. I have been on my own for 15 years now.” With his mentor’s encourage- ment and the encouragement of his wife Rachel, Maris now does high- end, custom installation through- out Long Island and the Hamptons. He works on new homes and reno- vations. His specialty is mosaics, handmade tile, large-format tiles and natural stones. He also works with glass slabs and other sorts of glass material, and he fabricates custom marble, granite and quartz countertops. Maris gives equal attention to clients, no matter the project size. “My main focus and priority is my client’s satisfaction,” he said. “I give them quality work installed with the highest standards so that they Maris Tile PRO: from destiny to distinction By Lesley Goddin Ulas Maris (right) along with NTCA’s Training Director Mark Heinlein at a recent workshop. 60 TileLetter | November 2018