CTEF Creates Dan Hecox Service Award, Announces First Winner

Orlando, FL, July 15, 2021-The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) created the Dan Hecox Service Award to be given out annually at Coverings. The first recipients are John Roberts and Woody Sanders, two tile industry professionals and Certified Tile Installers, who regularly go above and beyond in support of the CTEF Mission to raise the quality of ceramic tile installation. They received the award on July 8 at Coverings 2021 in Orlando, Florida.

Hecox’s passion, willingness to help attitude, and commitment to the tile industry, and tile installation excellence were beyond description. He routinely volunteered to help out CTEF at trade events and conferences; he served as CTI evaluator to help expand the certification program; he promoted tile installation best practices to interior design students so they could better specify tile projects.

After a short illness, Hecox CTI #1215 died at the age of 52 on September 21, 2020. The Dan Hecox Service Award recognizes his strong service-minded spirit in support of CTEF and the tile industry.

Roberts CTI #1278, having been a tile setter for almost 40 years and principal of John Roberts Designs in Georgia focusing on high-end residential remodeling, is now employed by the Beno J. Gundlach Company as a tool sales representative. In addition to being a CTI, Roverts is a CTI evaluator and volunteers to help educate younger tile setters at various NTCA Workshops and at The Georgia Skills CEFGA.

Sanders CTI #1295 is principal of DW Sanders Tile & Stone in Marietta, Georgia. He supports the CTEF CTI and ACT tile installation certification programs and expanding their reach and visibility within the tile industry. He sits on the NTCA technical, education, and business committees to help steer the tile industry’s future.