The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) recently shared the following tribute to Jim Isaminger, former owner and president of DMI Tile and Marble in Birmingham, Ala., who died Aug. 5 at the age of 91:
“Jim Isaminger was a valued member of the 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. DMI’s Contractor Safety Program helped lay the foundation for the 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 exec dir. 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 added.
A public visitation will be held Wed., Aug. 19, from 10-11 a.m. followed by a funeral service, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 1124 Montgomery Hwy. in Vestavia, Ala. Interment will follow at 1:15 p.m. at the Alabama National Cemetery, 3133 Hwy. 119 in Montevallo, Ala.
All photos courtesy of NTCA.
