Jim Isaminger, former Owner and President of DMI Tile and Marble in Birmingham, Ala., passed away Aug. 5 at the age of 91. He was a valued member of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and his local business community.
DMI Tile and Marble earned national recognition for installation excellence and was an original Five-Star Contractor of the NTCA. In fact, DMI’s Contractor Safety Program helped lay the foundation for NTCA’s Five-Star Accredited Contractor program, which recognizes the top tile contractors around the country.
Isaminger is also credited with having one of the first open-shop apprenticeship programs. His curriculum was approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, and much of it was used to develop the NTCA Apprenticeship Program with the help of Dan Welch of Welch Tile and Marble in Kent City, Mich., and NTCA Curriculum Director Becky Serbin.
Isaminger and his wife Marilyn, along with son Terry and other key DMI Tile and Marble employees, were highly involved in educating local middle and high school students about career opportunities in the tile industry. Many of these students entered the DMI Tile and Marble Apprenticeship Program. NTCA used many of the materials they used in the Birmingham school district to begin promoting the trade at a national level.
Isaminger was named NTCA Tile Person of the Year in 1996 and received NTCA’s prestigious Ring of Honor in 2005. He was President of NTCA from 2000-2002 and was instrumental in hiring current NTCA Executive Director Bart Bettiga in 2001.
Isaminger also authored a book called “Point Up” and allowed NTCA to sell it via the association’s online store.
“If there was a Mount Rushmore for NTCA volunteer leaders, Jim Isaminger would certainly be on it,” Bettiga said.
A public visitation for those wishing to pay their respects to Isaminger and his legacy will be held Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 10–11 a.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 1124 Montgomery Hwy. in Vestavia, Ala. The funeral service will begin that day at 11 a.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 1124 Montgomery Hwy. in Vestavia. Interment will follow at 1:15 p.m. at the Alabama National Cemetery, 3133 Hwy. 119 in Montevallo, Ala.
About the National Tile Contractors Association
Established in 1947, the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the professional installation of ceramic tile and natural stone. It is widely recognized as the largest and most respected tile contractors’ association in the world. For those seeking to improve their tile business, NTCA provides unparalleled educational experiences, supportive peer interaction, unique cost savings programs, and a commitment to help develop the skills needed to improve your work, recruit, train, and manage your employees, and ultimately, make your business more profitable.
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