Volunteer members working the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) booth at the International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas last week signed up an unprecedented number of new members: 24.
NTCA Assistant Executive Director Jim Olson, who oversees association membership, said, “2022 is the NTCA’s 75th Anniversary, and it started with a bang. Twenty-four new members joined the association — the most ever at TISE.”
He added, “It was very inspiring to see the members who volunteered to staff the NTCA booth, as they talked to potential contractor members of all ages. These volunteers were genuinely excited to give examples of why they became and have stayed members. The discussions ranged from technical training to business education, and rounded out with the networking and camaraderie the members share.”
NTCA Executive Director Bart Bettiga added, ““A dedicated group of NTCA members and ambassadors supported our efforts at TISE, and this led to a record number of members joining at this show.”
Eric Blumer of EJ Flooring, an NTCA member in Hallsville, Mo., and wife Jennifer both helped sign up new members during the show. “The new members seemed to search us out to get more info and join,” he said. “They had already looked through the booth descriptions and locations and were ready to know more.”
Katie Marcotte, co-owner of NTCA member company Maine Modern Tile in Otisfield, Maine, said, “I loved seeing the NTCA family really show up this year.” Whether it was booth staff or other members supporting the tile family, “there is no doubt that this large demonstration of inclusion and camaraderie throughout the show and at after-hours events is what made joining our family more appealing than ever.”
Matthew Chilcott of H&C Installations LLC in Northern Colorado signed up at TISE as a renewal. For him the “educational purposes” of NTCA membership were tantamount to his joining. Also, he has a son entering the industry. “I want to teach him the value of knowing other people outside our community—it’s a global industry, not just some tiny thing,” he said.
NTCA featured a training van in the booth, acting as a beacon for established and new members. During the show, interviews with members and staff were videotaped, touching on the benefits of association membership and the importance of the association in the industry.
NTCA is now planning for Coverings in April at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “We have bigger and better plans to celebrate our history, and look to the future together with our members,” Bettiga noted.
For more information, visit https://www.tile-assn.com.
