The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) has named Woody Sanders the recipient of its 2024 NTCA Ring of Honor award, bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the tile industry. As the second vice president of NTCA, Sanders has authored numerous documents for the NTCA Technical Committee and Methods and Standards Committee.
With a lifelong immersion in the tile industry, Sanders became a journeyman tile and stone setter at a young age. He founded DW Sanders Tile and Stone in 1994, following in the footsteps of his grandfather A.W. Cook, who established his own tile contracting business in 1929. Under Sanders’ leadership, DW Sanders Tile & Stone has earned widespread acclaim for installation excellence, receiving numerous NTCA Five-Star Contractor Awards and highly regarded in the Atlanta market.
As a certified tile installer, Sanders has dedicated himself to advancing the industry’s technical and educational standards. He serves on NTCA technical and educational committees and is a regional evaluator for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF). In recognition of his outstanding service and support, Sanders was honored with the Dan Hecox Service Award by CTEF in 2021. This award celebrates his financial and volunteer contributions to the organization.
Beyond his professional achievements, Sanders is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He has partnered with NTCA’s first vice president, Rod Owen of CC Owen Tile, to support the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) and the SkillsUSA Program, providing valuable resources and mentorship to area high school students pursuing careers in tile.
In related industry awards news, Floor & Decor has named NTCA its Pro Partner of the Year. Floor & Decor, a leading specialty retailer of hard surface flooring, annually honors partners who demonstrate exceptional performance, outstanding service and support.
“The NTCA is honored to be recognized as the Floor & Decor Pro Partner of the Year,” said Bart Bettiga, executive director of NTCA. “This award reflects our ongoing commitment to providing standard-based training, resources and education to our members and the broader tile installation community. We are proud to collaborate with Floor & Decor and look forward to continuing our partnership to drive innovation and education to the tile industry.”
NTCA offers a wide range of educational programs, technical resources and networking opportunities for tile contractors, manufacturers, distributors and other industry professionals. This month the association will deliver an extensive lineup of standards-based educational workshops and regional trainings. These events aim to offer professionals vital updates on industry standards, best practices and emerging trends.
The workshops, spanning three hours in the afternoon or evening, are open to tile installers, contractors, sales personnel, and members of the architecture and design community. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive learning environment to connect with peers and industry experts during the workshops, providing time for networking and knowledge exchange. Meals will be provided and there will be chances to win valuable prizes.
The workshops will focus on one of the following topics:
- Ins and Outs of Layout for Contractors
- Tile Matters – Best Practices for the Pros
- Failures – Could It Be Me?
- Tile Technology – Membranes
Dates and locations include: 5/14 at Daltile in Jacksonville, Fla., and Warwick, R.I.; 5/15 at Daltile in Fresno, Calif., and Portland, Maine; 5/16 at Daltile in Boston; 5/17 at Floor & Decor in Shrewsbury, Mass.; 5/21 at Daltile in Stamford, Conn.; 5/22 at Floor & Decor in Reno, Nev., and Danbury, Conn.; and 5/23 at Tile America in New Haven, Conn.
Regional Training sessions, offer tile installers an immersive, all-day experience using both traditional and cutting-edge tools, materials and techniques. These hands-on sessions are designed to empower participants with practical knowledge rooted in ANSI standards and methods outlined in the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook for Ceramic, Glass and Stone Tile Installation. The NTCA Reference Manual serves as a guiding resource throughout the training.
To maximize the learning experience, each session is limited to 20 participants. Attendees will receive a document of course completion upon successfully concluding the training session.
Topics for the Regional Trainings include:
- GPTP/Slabs Training equips you to install gauged porcelain tile panels (GPTP) with confidence and Learn new tile industry standards and methods for installing GPTP, how GPTP is made, where it can be used and special tools, setting materials and techniques required to install it.
- Substrate Preparation and Large-Format Tile Training will show you how to use the ANSI A 108 standards and TCNA Handbook to address real-world challenges in hands-on installations, focusing on substrate examination and preparation for setting large-format tile.
Regional training dates and locations include: 5/9 at Floor & Decor in Kennesaw, Ga.; 5/10 at Daltile in Boise; 5/16 at Floor & Decor in Jacksonville, Fla.; 5/16 at Crossville Studios in Denver; 5/22 at Floor & Decor in Tampa, Fla.; and 5/23 at BPI in Fort Worth, Texas.
For more information, visit http://NTCAtraining.com.
