b'TOM VAUGHNSoon,otherslikeButchWoelfel,NTCA back in the 70s one of the JessMcIvain,SteveYoung,RichmostrewardingdecisionsImade Deutsch,BobRoberson,Harveyin my career. Not only did I learn a Powell,GerryZakim,aswellasgreat deal over the year, I met many others joined the group. lifelong friends along the way.With a lot of work, the TechnicalIm glad to have been able to par-Committee was well on its way cre- ticipate in the Technical Committee ating and distributing information toandwatchtheceramicandstone the entire industry. Over the years,industry grow immensely, he said. more members were added and theIn the beginning, the industry was committeewentfromdistributingmuch simpler and one could have a ahandfulofdocumentstonearlypretty good understanding of nearly 300pagesofinformationtoday.all the products and installation pro-Ive been very fortunate to be a partcedures. In fact, the tile Handbookof this group for so many years. Ionly had about 16 pages of details.continue to be amazed at how theIm grateful to those that helped tileindustryhaschanged,butImmelearnaboutourgreatindustry soimpressedwiththetechnicalandhopeIwasabletohelpoth-expertisethecommitteecurrentlyersimprovetheirunderstandingof processes. installation methods and practices, Vaughn also served on the NTCAhe said. Looking back, Im totally BoardofDirectorsasanAffi liateamazedathowmanydocuments Distributor member in the early 90s,andpapershavecomefromthe representing Minnesota Tile Supply.group. The hours spent both in meet-Both NTCA Executive Director Bartings and on our own time have help BettigaandAssistantExecutiveshapedthedirectionofhowtile Director Jim Olson worked for himisbeinginstalled.Withthenum-there in the late 80s to mid 90s.ber of really talented members the I believe Tom was instrumental incommittee currently has, Im confi -helpingmetobecomeExecutivedent the committee will continue to Director at NTCA, Bettiga added. make signifi cant contributions in the Hecalledhisinvolvementwithmonths and years ahead.The NTCA Technical Committee bids a fond farewell to Tom Vaughn in Las Vegas after its fi nal meeting.116 TileLetter | May 2019'