Total Solutions Plus (TSP) 2022 kicked off at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, California, on November 5 with a welcome reception held poolside on Sunday night. Organized by the Ceramic Tile Distributor Association (CTDA), National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Tile Contractor’s Association of America (TCAA) and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), this year’s conference is a positive sign the tile industry is ready to be back for in-person networking, socializing and education.
Steve McClatchy, author of New York Times Bestseller “Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example,” presented the Opening Keynote on the topic of personal leadership.
During the first morning of breakout sessions, Tom Shay, president of Profits Plus Solutions, Inc. and fourth-generation small business owner, spoke about the economy and how business has changed since the pandemic. “The need to change is because every one of us is different how we do business since 2020,” he said. “We had to learn how to do things differently and to adapt.”
Topics continually surfacing throughout day one of the conference were labor shortage, supply chain, the energy crisis and sustainability.
On the technical side, there was a breakout session on gauged porcelain tile presented by Steve Clem, a principle at TVS Design. As these large formats continue to grow in popularity, the presentation addressed new standards and the innovative ways they are being applied in design. “I have never seen a more innovative material than this thin gauged tile,” he said. “You can see the impact it has on these projects, and it is dramatically more affordable than natural stone. This material allows two people to handle it. It’s flat and lightweight.”
The afternoon of day one rounded out with an awards luncheon, which honored Frank Donahue, owner/regional direct of Best Tile, with the CTDA Distributor Award, as well as distributors and contractors forums, and a tabletop exhibition. Stay tuned for more coverage.
