Passing the torch of knowledge is an important feature of keeping an industry alive. Earlier in the year, NTCA Executive Director Bart Bettiga stated, “One of the most important strategic objectives the NTCA has identified is the recruitment and engagement of active participation for the next generation of leaders in the tile industry.”
To that end, earlier this year, NTCA piloted a new program called The Emerging Leaders Forum (https://www.tileletter.com/ntca-emerging-leaders-program-kicks-off-at-tise/). Sixteen participants met in person and virtually between The International Surfaces Event (TISE) and Coverings to explore different aspects of leadership and support each other in the self-discovery that accompanied this process. The fruits of the program were rich and rewarding, nurturing leadership skills and connections within the industry.
On January 25, 2024, the second cohort of The Emerging Leaders Forum will kick off in-person from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. at TISE in Las Vegas. Wally Adamchik of Firestarter Speaking/Consulting will again lead the group through an orientation and delve into the benefits of NTCA, communication skills and the DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness) evaluation. There will be a discussion of the book True North: Leading Authentically in Today’s Workplace, Emerging Leader Edition, and the practice of journaling, plus conversation about best practices that help participants get the most out of the program.
Participants will engage in four, two-hour virtual meetings February through April, from 12:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. ET. Topics are as follows:
- Leadership vs. Management
- Coaching for success, where participants will learn about their coaching styles.
- Influencer/Relationships – learning powerful influence strategies and skills that can change
behavior. - Servant Leadership with Joe Schneider. The era of the heroic leader is out and the era of the servant leader is in. Learn how to develop and apply this concept.
The group will reconvene in person during Coverings on April 22 in Atlanta to wrap up the program, discuss sustaining change and getting ROI out of the forum. There will be guidance of how to integrate NTCA into the process, develop personal mission statements, manage change and celebrate with a graduation ceremony.
Adamchik reflected on the initial run of the program and the continuing program. He noted that the program will be a bit shorter, but with “some added NTCA content that the students wanted.” He observed that networking in the first group was big, “but so was the hunger to learn. They always wanted more; to go deeper.”
Some of the value he saw in the program was participants connecting outside of class, and calling and asking for coaching on different situations they were encountering.
Janice Daigle, Project Manager for D.W. Sanders Tile & Stone Contracting in Marietta, Ga., a 2020 Rock Stars Award Recipient, and board member of the NTCA’s Women In Tile initiative, is one of the registrants for this new round of leadership development. She looks forward to furthering “my growth in a leadership role with D.W. Sanders Tile & Stone Contracting. I believe continuing education/training is great for any leadership position.”
Daigle has viewed some of Adamchik’s videos which inspired her. “I’m excited to work with him and be able to pick his brain on specific topics pertaining to leadership,” she said. “I’m hopeful for new tools to add to my toolbox for leadership within the tile and stone industry. This type of program also offers a group of other young leaders in our industry so I look forward to making new connections that I may not have made without this type of group.”
Twenty-one year old Austin Cox of Memphis Tile & Marble in Memphis, Tenn., has also registered for the 2024 class. He’s currently working in the field as a helper, but wants to learn leadership skills.
“I don’t really have any managerial training,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to learn about management stuff, leading people well and delegating. I don’t know where I would get that anywhere else.
In addition to the Emerging Leaders Forum, a community is in development for program participants and graduates, designed to provide support and guidance as members implement the concepts from the program. Besides giving guidance to community members, this group will generate feedback on the program itself to make it even more beneficial and provide value.
Details on the Emerging Leaders Forum are available on the NTCA website – Just type “Emerging Leaders” into the search bar.
Editorial Director and Senior Writer for TileLetter and TileLetter ARTISAN
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.
