THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL TILE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION BART A. BETTIGA, publisher bart@tile-assn.com LESLEY A. GODDIN, editor lesley@tile-assn.com MICHELLE CHAPMAN, art director advertising sales michelle@tile-assn.com MARY SHAW-OLSON, advertising sales mary@tile-assn.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13629 Jackson, MS 39236 U.S.A. Shipping Address: 626 Lakeland East Drive Jackson, MS 39232 Tel: 601-939-2071 Fax: 601-932-6117 Website: www.tileletter.com www.tile-assn.com Departments 6 Editor’s letter 10 President’s letter 14 Ask the Experts Sponsored by LATICRETE International, Inc. 20 Business Tip: Change or be dragged: How to reinvent yourself when life demands it By Paul G. Krasnow 56 Member Spotlight: Dutchess County Tile Sponsored by Custom Building Products 78 Tech Talk: Avoiding latex leaching from tile-setting materials By Colin Cass,Techtile, Consulting Pty. Ltd, Australia Sponsored by TEC Specialty Products 100 Qualified Labor: SkillsUSA competitions for tile-setting: coming to a state near you soon By Becky Serbin, NTCA Training and Education Coordinator 118 Learn more about NTCA University: Visit Becky Serbin at booth #8209 By Becky Serbin, NTCA Training and Education Coordinator 122 Advertisers Index TheNationalTileContractorsAssociation,Inc.isan equal opportunity association and seeks to include qualifiedindividualsandbusinessesinallphasesofits activities.TheNationalTileContractorsAssociation, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,religion,age,sex,sexualorientation,national origin,veteranstatus,ordisability.TheNationalTile ContractorsAssociation,Inc.seeksopportunitiesto include these groups in its programs and activities. TileLetter is a free subscription to the tile, stone and allied products industries. To subscribe, visit www. tileletter.com -> click on Advertisers & Subscribers -> click on Subscribe. To make address changes or unsubscribe,pleasesendanemailto:webmaster@ tile-assn.com. TILELETTER EDITORIAL POLICY: TileLetter is the officialpublicationoftheNationalTileContractors Association, Inc. (NTCA). TileLetter provides a medium for expressing views and opinions with- outapproving,disapproving,orguaranteeingthe validityoraccuracyofanydata,claimoropinion appearingunderabyline,orobtainedorquoted fromanacknowledgedsource.Statementsoffact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors alone, and do not imply an opinion or reflect the official position of NTCA. NTCA would not be possible with- out the dedicated service of our board and committee members, and regional and state directors. Meet these dedicated volunteers by visit- ing www.tile-assn.com and clicking on About Us. You can also find infor- mation and a continually updated list of Five Star Contractors at www. tile-assn.com – click on Find a Tile Contractor or Consultant. 4 TileLetter | 2018