The recent NTCA Five-Star Summer Meeting brought together the nation’s most elite tile contractors for education, networking, and collaboration in the heart of Nashville—a city celebrated for both its music and its tile manufacturing legacy. This event was made possible by generous sponsors including Dal-Tile, MAPEI, QEP Tools and Schluter Systems.
A warm welcome in Music City
The event kicked off Sunday evening with an opening reception, giving Five-Star Contractors a chance to reunite with peers, welcome new members, and meet with key sponsors whose support makes the Five-Star program possible. Six newly accredited Five-Star Contractors were recognized, marking a continued push toward NTCA’s “Drive to 75” initiative to reach 75 Five-Star Contractors from the current 52 by the end of 2027.
Powerful panels and industry insight
Monday began with a Five-Star program overview, followed by a panel discussion with key sponsors: Hilary Frank (Dal-Tile), Todd McDougal (MAPEI), Ivan Del Barrio (QEP), and Andy Acker (Schluter). As moderator, we explored market trends, product innovations, and how manufacturers and contractors can strengthen collaboration to deliver exceptional results.
This panel was unique in that we brought the Five-Star audience into the discussion, inviting them to engage the panelists in active and meaningful conversations that provided them with valuable insights.
Angela DiGianfelice, OSHA Compliance Supervisor for State of Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development (TOSHA), then presented “Navigating the New Silica Safety Landscape,” providing clear guidance on permissible exposure limits, engineering controls, and the importance of written exposure plans. Her insights gave attendees practical steps to protect worker health while staying ahead of evolving regulations.
Before lunch, Elena Grant, NTCA Assistant Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations, and I presented “Maximizing Your Five-Star Advantage,” highlighting marketing resources, branding strategies, and ways to leverage accreditation for competitive advantage. We encouraged attendees to prominently feature the Five-Star logo across websites, proposals, jobsite signage, and social media to reinforce their credibility.
Peer-to-peer breakouts
In the afternoon, attendees split into Residential and Large/Commercial contractor groups for in-depth breakout sessions. Moderators guided conversations on challenges, opportunities, standards, and real-world solutions. The format encouraged open dialogue and allowed newer Five-Star members to learn directly from seasoned peers.
Groups reconvened to share top takeaways, sparking lively discussion and idea-sharing. “The most beneficial part of the education program for me was a breakout session where residential and commercial contractors split into groups to discuss shared challenges and possible solutions,” said Jeff Occhipinti, Five-Star Residential Contractor and Owner of Columbia River Tile & Stone out of Portland, Ore . “When the groups came back together to share key takeaways, it was interesting how much overlap there was in the issues both sides identified… Above all, the greatest value came from networking and connecting with some of the best in our industry. The ideas and knowledge shared were truly priceless.”
Technology driving the future
Innovation took center stage with “Revolutionizing Preconstruction: AI-Driven Solutions” featuring Shayne Paterson (JENGAI) and Jerry Freeman (Spec-ID). They showcased AI-powered tools that streamline bidding, estimation, and specification management, helping contractors increase accuracy, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes.
That evening, attendees enjoyed a special reception and dinner at Ole Red, soaking in live music and the camaraderie of the Five-Star community.
Day two: securing the future
Tuesday opened with Roman Basi of The Center for Financial, Legal & Tax Planning presenting, “Leveling Up–Securing the Future of Your Tile Business.” His session covered business structure, tax strategies, succession planning, and how to prepare a company for sale or transition. Attendees left with actionable steps to protect and grow their businesses for the long term.
Joseph Antonini of Document Crunch missed the event due to illness, but his presentation was featured on the August 14th Five-Star Webinar Series. “Simplifying Contract Compliance: Leveraging AI” demonstrated how the CrunchAI platform identifies risks, standardizes contract reviews, and integrates with tools like Procore. Antonini showed how technology can save time, reduce errors, and enhance compliance.
The meeting concluded with a recap session, summarizing key lessons and reinforcing the value of collaboration and continuous improvement within the Five-Star network.
Attendee perspectives
The value of the meeting was best captured by the attendees themselves:
Woody Sanders, Owner of D.W. Sanders, Five-Star Accredited Residential Contractor and NTCA Vice- President, stated, “It was good to reconvene as accredited Five Star Contractors this summer with a full agenda of forward-looking presentations, from safety in regard to silica dust to AI in document management to succession planning. One was left with much to consider. As always the best conversation happens with your peers.”
John Cox, Owner of Cox Tile, Five-Star Accredited Residential Contractor, added, “We were able to identify how we can leverage the NTCA first and then double down on the Five-Star Contractors. The networking and camaraderie were second to none. I will continue to support and help grow this program for our future generations as well as the present. The future is now!”
Erin Albrecht, Owner of J&R Tile, Five-Star Accredited Residential & Commercial Contractor, noted, “The highlight of the Five-Star Summer Meeting was the collaboration that came out of the breakout sessions, an opportunity to problem-solve together and tackle industry challenges head-on. Equally valuable was learning from contractors across the country, gaining fresh perspectives to strengthen our own operations. And of course, the reception was unforgettable! Between the live country music, the camaraderie, and singing along to my favorite country hits, I came back to Texas with a hoarse voice and a full heart after a night with my Five-Star brothers and sisters.”
Looking ahead
With the “Drive to 75” goal on the horizon and new tools, strategies, and connections in place, the Five-Star community is poised for growth. I left Nashville inspired by the expertise, generosity, and commitment of our members. The Five-Star Summer Meeting wasn’t just about learning—it was about strengthening the relationships and resources that set our members apart as the most trusted, skilled, and forward-thinking contractors in the tile industry.
Jeremy Sax
Jeremy Sax started his career in the tile industry, back in 1998, as the Director of Domestic Sales for Tamiami Tile in Miami, Florida. An accomplished leader with over 26 years of experience in strategic management, scaling businesses and servant leadership, Jeremy brings a wealth of expertise to NTCA. His previous roles have included significant leadership positions where he demonstrated exceptional skills in organizational growth, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement ranging from roles within Manufacturing, Distribution and most recently Private Equity.
As Deputy Director, Sax will be instrumental in supporting NTCA’s objectives to enhance industry standards, foster professional growth, and advocate for the tile contracting community. His proven track record in managing complex projects and driving strategic initiatives aligns perfectly with NTCA’s goals of innovation and excellence in the tile industry.
Sax holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Management from St. Louis University. He is known for his strategic vision, dedication to excellence, and his ability to cultivate strong relationships within the industry. Sax’s commitment to advancing professional standards and his deep understanding of market dynamics is invaluable in his role as NTCA Deputy Director.
