CTEF Appoints New Executive Director
As owner of Long's Tile Company, Scott Carothers brings 26 years of experience in the ceramic tile industry to CTEF. Mr. Carothers has served on the Board of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) for 12 years and was president of NTCA from 2003 to 2005. He has been a member of NTCA's Technical Committee for 15 years and was Chairman of the committee for 5 years.
“Mr. Carothers' recent leadership positions and field experience in meeting the needs of the installation community are exemplary and well known," commented Dave Gobis, out-going CTEF executive director. "The CTEF Board would be hard-pressed to find a more qualified successor."
Mr. Gobis will be the technical director for CTEF. In his new position as technical director, Mr. Gobis will focus on creating technically-oriented programs to meet the needs of the installation community, as well as all segments of the ceramic tile industry.
"Our vision is to expand beyond the single-site to multiple, strategically located, training facilities, so training will be readily accessible," said Mr. Carothers. "CTEF's programs are unique. Its curriculum is based on practical applications, ANSI standards, and the TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation. At CTEF, students learn the properties of a variety of materials. For instance, if you attend a waterproofing, crack isolation, and mortar shower-base class, you learn about 10 product types from different manufacturers. You are not limited to one product from one manufacturer."
"I have worked closely with Scott Carothers, since I joined NTCA in 2001. His passion for the industry, specifically in relation to training and education for the proper installation of ceramic tile, is unequaled. His numerous years of experience in all facets of NTCA operations, from fundraising to developing training programs, make him uniquely qualified to lead the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. Most importantly, Scott assumes a "Whatever It Takes" approach to leadership. He possesses strong authoritative skills, but is a quality listener and the consummate team player. Through his actions and strong leadership skills, Scott will motivate staff and volunteers throughout the industry to assist him in this important position," said Bart Bettiga, executive director of NTCA.
Eric Astrachan, CTEF board member and executive director of the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) stated, "Putting Scott Carothers together with Dave Gobis, along with CTEF's recently-expanded team of instructors (Stephanie Samulski with TCNA, Gerald Sloan with NTCA, and Brad Snipes with CTEF), creates a synergy that will greatly expand CTEF's role in providing career advancement programs for today’s installers and can help address our industry's growing demand for installers."
Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (Pendleton, SC) is an educational institution that offers local, regional, and national training programs for installers, construction professionals, architects, designers, building inspectors, sales associates, and consumers interested in the installation of ceramic tile. After recent additions to the Board of Directors, CTEF is supported by the Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers of Spain (ASCER), the Association of Italian Ceramic Tile & Refractory Manufacturers (Confindustria Ceramica, formally Assopiastrelle), and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) along with the Tile Council of North America and other industry supporters.
Related Topics: CERAMICS OF ITALY