Welcome to the latest, greatest incarnation of Coverings – in this its 29th year – celebrated in the fair city of Atlanta! Coverings never fails to impress, with its sprawling show floor, thou- sands of new products to adorn floors, walls, and countertops as well as those that ensure instal- lations perform for the long haul. There are hundreds of learning opportunities, whether you are attending a conference session or watching the presentations on the Live Installation Demonstration Stage, and lots of special show features and events. There are also ample chances to meet new folks and hobnob with old friends at happy hours, lunches, tours and after-show parties. Take a look through this issue at all the oppor- tunities this show affords you, plot your course, and go! One thing I am excited about is a brand new feature this year – The Installation Experience in Hall C, Booth #8401. This is an event like no other. The Installation Experience showcases the best and the worst of tile and illustrates why qualified labor makes all the difference. The Installation Experience will take you on a tour through tile fail- ures, and their corresponding suc- cesses when installed by qualified craftspeople. You’ll see examples of the work of tile masters and technical experts from top industry associa- tions – CTEF, IMI, International Union of Bricklayers (IUBAC), NTCA, TCAA and TCNA: beautiful tile in working bath, kitchen and fireplace installs. Inaddition,there’saCTIChallenge – two teams of Certified Tile Installers – led by Jason McDaniel of Stoneman Construction LLC and Greg Twarog of Surfaces15 – will face off on a tile installation com- petition. There’s also an opportunity for you to learn more about the CTI test as well as the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) test, and witness test demonstrations, while having the chance to ask questions about the exams. Relax in a expan- sive seating area with a large TV screen showing time-lapsed prog- ress video, highlighting the various construction stages of the proj- ects slated to take place. In addi- tion, 30-60 minute training sessions offered in the nearby Contractor EDITOR’S LETTER Lesley A. Goddin You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery, and always challenge yourself to try new things. – Nate Berkus 6 TileLetter | 2018