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: Making the most of Coverings By Lesley Goddin, Editor 48 NTCA Five-Star Member Spotlight: High expectations, high compensation, ongoing education create excellence for Northern California Tile & Stone Sponsored by Custom Building Products 68 Tech Talk: Essential toolbox – must-have gear for tile installers By Lesley Goddin, Editor 102 Planning your conference strategy at Coverings By Becky Serbin, NTCA Training and Education Coordinator 104 NTCA Benefits Box: MyPlanItTraveler.com: Vacations at a deep discount 106 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, please send an email to: 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 NTCA Five-Star Contractors at www.tile-assn.com – click on Find a Tile Contractor or Consultant. 4 TileLetter | 2019