Driving excellence forward
The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) continues to elevate industry standards through its prestigious Five-Star Accreditation program. Recognized nationally, this program distinguishes contractors who demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, craftsmanship, and industry expertise.
As NTCA Deputy Director, one of my goals is to reenergize the Five-Star program. This program deserves servant leadership and advocacy. I have spoken to or physically met with most of our Five-Star Contractors and I’m thrilled to deliver more ROI to this nationally-recognized program. I would also be remiss if I did not mention all the hard work and dedication NTCA Education & Curriculum Director Becky Serbin has added to this program. Without Becky, there is no question, the Five-Star Accredited Program would not be thriving currently.
Here are three quick, recent wins to the Five-Star program:
- We now have a Five-Star Presentation geared to architects, GCs, prospective Five-Star members and industry sponsors.
- We’ve developed a complementary Five-Star Exclusive Webinar series dedicated to providing cutting edge business insights.
- The Five-Star Contractors Map, found on the NTCA website at www.tile-assn.com has been overhauled, making it much more user friendly. When you click on a specific star that represents a Five-Star Accredited company, their detailed contact information pops up on the screen.
Five-Star Exclusive Webinar Series
A significant milestone for the program is the introduction of the Five-Star Exclusive Webinar Series. The very first webinar was on February 25, where Allianz Trade – a world renown accounts receivable solutions company – presented their unique value proposition to save Five-Star Members time and money from commercial collections.
The Allianz Trade presentation was a perfect kick off to the inaugural Five-Star Webinar Series. Their organization allows commercial contractors to safeguard their accounts receivable WITHOUT a traditional Notice to Owner (NTO). We all know GCs and owners do not like NTOs and Allianz Trade provides a unique, competitive intelligence solution that further protects the tile contractor’s legal rights to collect invoices.
This ongoing webinar initiative offers members unparalleled access to advanced training sessions, expert insights, and industry-leading practices. They are designed to address emerging trends, technical challenges, and innovative solutions, fostering continuous professional development within the Five-Star community. Our next webinar, “Job Cost Bootcamp,” will be April 8 at 2 PM EST. Watch your email for upcoming times and dates.
Five-Star Labor Specification Project Data
Compiling Five-Star Labor Specification Project Data has provided invaluable insights into labor trends, project efficiencies, and best practices across diverse installations. This data helps Five-Star contractors benchmark their performance, refine operational strategies, and deliver exceptional results on every project. Here are some fun facts that resulted from this data:
- Over 250 architectural firms are now specifying Five-Star Labor.
- There are 44 new architectural firms that have begun to specify Five-Star Labor, just within the last 6 months!
- There are over 2,326 projects specifying NTCA Five-Star Labor within RIB SpecLink.
Architectural specifications for NTCA Five-Star Labor continue to propel this nationally-recognized program. Just last week, a tile contractor called me to apply, since they have seen a major spike with Five-Star Labor specified in the projects they are bidding.
Here are a few charts that illustrate how the NTCA Five-Star Labor specifications have positively impacted this program:
As NTCA advances the Five-Star Accreditation program, the focus remains on promoting excellence, supporting professional growth, and enhancing the credibility of its members. The continued expansion of the program and the introduction of exclusive educational resources solidify NTCA’s commitment to setting the gold standard in the tile industry.
After 17 years of the NTCA Five-Star program’s existence, I can honestly attest that we are just getting started. Our industry needs and deserves this program. I appreciate all of our NTCA Accredited Five-Star Contractors, because it is they that make this industry better.
Jeremy Sax
Jeremy Sax started his career in the tile industry, back in 1998, as the Director of Domestic Sales for Tamiami Tile in Miami, Florida. An accomplished leader with over 26 years of experience in strategic management, scaling businesses and servant leadership, Jeremy brings a wealth of expertise to NTCA. His previous roles have included significant leadership positions where he demonstrated exceptional skills in organizational growth, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement ranging from roles within Manufacturing, Distribution and most recently Private Equity.
As Deputy Director, Sax will be instrumental in supporting NTCA’s objectives to enhance industry standards, foster professional growth, and advocate for the tile contracting community. His proven track record in managing complex projects and driving strategic initiatives aligns perfectly with NTCA’s goals of innovation and excellence in the tile industry.
Sax holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Management from St. Louis University. He is known for his strategic vision, dedication to excellence, and his ability to cultivate strong relationships within the industry. Sax’s commitment to advancing professional standards and his deep understanding of market dynamics is invaluable in his role as NTCA Deputy Director.
