I began as a tile apprentice in the tile industry in 1995. From that time until 2004 I worked

with several tile companies and licensed tile contractors. During that time I acquired

knowledge on general construction practice, craftsmanship in tile work, and the methods

and standards that provide the guidelines needed for quality and longevity in tile assemblies.

The work performed was tile & stone flooring, bathrooms & shower systems, balconies,

backsplashes, outdoor spaces, utilizing all forms of stone, glass, ceramic, porcelain, and

specialty tile. While in the capacity of installer and supervisor at Karl’s Tile, I earned my

certificate of competency from West Palm Beach and Broward county as a licensed

contractor in Tile, Terrazzo, and Marble. I continued to work with Karl’s Tile until late 2006. In

2007 I formed Trendsetter Tile & Stone, Inc. Trendsetter worked in commercial and residential

locations. At that time I was a regular participant in the National Tile Contractors Association

(NTCA) workshops and training events. The relationships I formed with trainers from the

NTCA increased my knowledge where I often become a resource to distributors, contractors,

and homeowners, that had questions regarding installation difficulties. In 2009 I tested with

the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation(CTEF), and became a Certified Tile Installer (CTI). In

2013 Trendsetter became a member of the NTCA. Going into 2015, Trendsetter shifted it’s

focus toward shower system installation. We began installing shower systems warrantied by

manufacturers, and installed more complex shower systems such as curbless and multi-

drain designs, in addition to traditional showers. In 2016 the NTCA requested that I serve as

a state ambassador. Following that position, in 2017 the NTCA appointed me to Region 4

State Director. At that time I also served on the NTCA board of directors from 2017-2020. In

2017 I began conducting forensic examinations of job site failures. I have since continued to

generate reports, participate in video conferences, and make my services available to

attorneys and home owners, in addition to distributors and contractors. In 2021 the NTCA

selected me for a speaking event at the 2021 Coverings Convention in Orlando Florida. I

spoke on water management in tile assemblies and more specifically on recessed shower

assemblies. At this event I also presented with Karl Baltzer of Karl’s Tile on installation

failures such as tile spot bonding and an unapproved method of tile installation known as the

Miami Sandwich. I have hosted several round table events with the NTCA to promote

qualified labor, and address serious concerns regarding failed tile assemblies. In 2022 the

NTCA appointed me to the Methods and Standards Committee. This committees role is to

bring forth solutions, and recommendations that are then presented to the NTCA Technical

Committee. In 2025 I was appointed to the NTCA Technical Committee in addition to holding

a position in the Methods and Standards Committee. The NTCA Technical Committee

reviews submissions from committees and makes decisions as to how the submissions

should affect the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Tile Council of North

America (TCNA), as well as the NTCA Reference Manual. The Technical Committee also

removes and adds content to the ANSI and TCNA handbooks which are the tile industries

main resources for standards and guidelines.