In 2018, NTCA rolled out its pro- gram of Regional Training events, with special programs designed for its NTCA Five-Star Contractor Members. In the late fall, two NTCA Five- Star Regional Training events took place, presented by NTCA Training Director Mark Heinlein. The first program was unveiled at Grazzini Brothers & Company, Eagan, Minn., one of the largest union contractors in the country, as well as a NTCA Five-Star Contractor. A couple of weeks later, Mark delivered the pro- gram to the expansive commercial contractor David Allen Company in Raleigh, N.C. Both of these pro- grams were met with great enthu- siasm, and brought essential infor- mation to tile setters, foremen, and office staff of these companies. Grazzini Brothers & Company At Grazzini Brothers & Company, it’s important to note that the pro- gram served as key complemen- tary training to the skills union contractors learned as part of their union apprenticeships. “Even qual- ity tile setters trained in formal apprenticeship programs need to participate in educational work- shops and training programs, especially because the technology in our industry is vastly different than when they were trained in proper tile installation,” said NTCA Executive Director Bart Bettiga. Grazzini Brothers Project Coordinator Steve Olson gave the program high marks. He called the classroom portion of the program “invaluable because it helped me become more familiar with a resource that I use almost every day: the TCNA Handbook. When putting together a bid it is critical to investigate the speci- fied setting methods. In many TRAINING & EDUCATION ––––––––––––– NTCA Regional Training programs educate and inspire By Lesley Goddin 58 TileLetter | January 2019