NTCA Announces Awardwinners & Scholarship Recipients

Orlando, FL, July 15, 2021-The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) honored numerous members and scholarship winners during a special in-person awards ceremony on Thursday, July 8th at the Coverings trade show held in Orlando, Florida.

Brad Denny, vice president of Nichols Tile and Terrazzo of Joelton, Tennessee, was honored as the NTCA Tile Person of the Year. Denny was cited for his work on the ANSI A108 subcommittee and the NTCA Apprenticeship Program, as well as being a mentor to younger members of the association and a positive influencer on social media. 2020 NTCA Tile Person of the Year Martin Brookes of Heritage Marble & Tile of Mill Valley, California presented the award.

NTCA presented a Special Recognition Award to Lee and Jane Callewaert of Dragonfly Tile and Stone in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Joshua Nordstrom of Tierra Tile in Homer, Alaska. The three collaborated with NTCA on a special virtual artisanship project that was assembled throughout the week and streamed live from Dragonfly’s studio in Wisconsin to attendees in the Coverings Lounge.

Leo Reynaga (residential) of Visalia Tile and Stone of Visalia, California and Ferid Hasic (commercial) of Grazzini Brothers of Minneapolis, Minnesota were honored as the second annual NTCA Craftspersons of the Year. The award was announced in 2020, but both craftsmen were honored for installation excellence at the 2021 show.

Three students were named as the 2021 NTCA Tom Ade Ceramic Tile Scholarship recipients and each received a $5,000 scholarship. Jacob Fox, son of Kevin and Jolene Fox or Fox Tile or St. Marys, Kansas; Christopher Walker, son of Christopher and Elena Walker of David Allen Company, Raleigh, North Carolina; and Amanda Mourelatos, daughter of John and Valerie Mourelatos of Mourelatos Tile, Tucscon, Arizona, were honored for outstanding academic and community achievement in their respective communities with these awards.