Anderson, S.C. -- Tile Council of North America (TCNA) recently announced that Bill Griese, TCNA's director of standards development and sustainability initiatives, has been honored with ASTM International's award of merit in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the development of standards for the Committee C21 on Ceramic Whitewares. The award of merit was established in 1949 by the ASTM International and is the highest society award granted to an individual member for distinguished service and outstanding participation in ASTM International committee activities. Along with the award, Griese is now a fellow of the ASTM Society.

Griese joined ASTM in 2007. Beginning in 2008, he served three consecutive terms as chairman of Committee C21 on Ceramic Whitewares and Related Products. He currently serves as C21 vice-chairman and chairman of Subcommittee C21.06 on Ceramic Tile. Additionally, Griese is a member of ASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability and ASTM Committee C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units. He also served two terms (one as chairman) as an appointed member of ASTM's regulatory Committee on Technical Committee Operations (COTCO), and this year he began a three-year term on ASTM's board of directors.

With Griese's contributions, especially to C21, new specifications have been created and dormant ones revitalized. He has authored and co-authored ASTM International standards, and he has reduced the cycle time of standardization efforts through outreach, stakeholder engagement, and increased committee correspondence. Through his consensus building aptitude, he has led committees through contentious subjects, and he has suggested compromises by which standards on the brink of expiration could be passed.

Griese is an active participant in the World Ceramic Tiles Forum. He also speaks regularly at events in the U.S. and abroad and is an author, columnist, and contributor to several industry publications. In 2016, Coverings honored him as a "Coverings Rock Star," a group of young professionals recognized for having distinguished themselves as industry leaders. Griese is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) with a specialty in building design and construction. He earned a bachelor of science degree in Ceramic and Materials Engineering from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C.

For more information, visit www.tile-assn.com.