“Partnerships built on trust, respect and communication can withstand any storm.”
— Jennifer Haigh
Welcome to our May issue, which celebrates partnership, collaboration and connections within our industry.
To start, our cover feature highlights the adaptive reuse of the historic Union Pacific railway station in Salt Lake City. Products from Schluter Systems transformed this depot into the Asher Adams Autograph Collection hotel, connecting the past with the present. Learn how!
Our Technical section brings you information on understanding and avoiding lippage in Ask the Experts. In our Technical story, CTEF’s Scott Carothers explains why the “Miami Sandwich” tile setting shortcut is always a bad idea.
NTCA is renowned for its training and education programs, and training-in-print provided by TileLetter magazine. None of this could happen without the support of our industry partners. Hear from a few new collaborators about why what NTCA offers is so important for tile installers and contractors, the industry as a whole – and for their own brands as well.
Jacob Webb, Owner/Operator of GWR in Senoia, Ga., persevered through challenges in early life to flourish as a respected remodeler, a proud CTI, an appreciative employer, and a believer in the incomparable value of NTCA University. Meet Jacob Webb in our NTCA Member story.
Bart Bettiga sits down with Eric Edelson, creative mastermind and CEO of Fireclay Tile. Discover how this company grew from a $5 million firm to a $50 million industry leader in a decade, and what’s on the horizon.
Our Product Focus section tours you through the world of waterjet – including equipment suppliers, providers of custom medallions and art elements, and waterjet-cut mosaics. And in our Artisan section, we talk with four tile contractors who make use of waterjet-cut products and services to customize their projects at affordable prices. Find out what is involved in designing a waterjet feature and what to be mindful of when installing them.
NTCA President Rod Owen penned a letter that addresses Market Acumen and how it can help your business develop and use it to best effect.
For an at-a-glance view at some recent news items you can read more about at TileLetter.com, check out the News Ticker feature.
Last month, TileLetter published a tribute to the legendary Butch Woelfel, who passed away in February. It turns out that Angie Weber, Advertising & Membership Specialist at NTCA/TileLetter, had a special connection with Butch and the Woelfel family. Butch and her dad Nicolas Gonzalez, both built their careers in El Paso. Nicolas worked in construction too – on the grading side. He was so proud to have been part of the team that built I-10 on the Westside, including the Sunland Park and Resler bridges. He helped build many of the same places where Butch later installed tile, such as the Plaza Theatre. Subsequently, these places hold many special memories for Weber’s family too, creating a kinship with the Woelfel family due to this connection. Although Weber now lives in the Dallas area with her children, when she visits El Paso, she feels that connection to her dad – and now Butch.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the role Butch played in shaping our hometown and, in a way, being part of our memories – even if we never knew it at the time,” she wrote in a personal note to the Woelfel family.
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
