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20|February 2020
Natural Stone Institute
Completes 25th Home with Gary Sinise Foundation
Slippery rock Gazette
NTCA Sponsors CEFGA CareerExpo
    The Natural Stone Institute has provided natural stone and fabrication services for two homes with the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment). The R.I.S.E. program builds spe- cially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. To date, Natural Stone Institute members have been involved in twenty-five completed homes.
Province, Afghanistan. An IED detonated under Jesse, blasting him into the air. After being sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Jesse un- derwent seven surgeries on both legs. He was then sent to Naval Medical Center San Diego for outpatient care, where he met Kelly, the woman who would soon be his wife. The couple has two young daughters: Grace and Isla.
Natural stone and fabrication
explosion. He lost both of his legs immediately. Stefan was trans- ported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he spent over a month in the hos- pital. He spent two years learning to adapt to his prosthetics, draw- ing strength from his friends and other amputees at the hospital. Sixteen months after his last sur- gery in September 2014, he ran the Boston Marathon.
Fifty-nine Natural Stone Institute members have donated their time, products, and ser- vices to this cause since 2016. A list of all donors can be found at www.naturalstoneinstitute. org/RISE. Stone companies in- terested in getting involved with future projects are encouraged to contact Pam Hammond at pam@ naturalstoneinstitute.org.
The Natural Stone Institute is a trade association representing every aspect of the natural stone industry. The current membership exceeds 2,000 members in over 50 nations. The association offers a wide array of technical and train- ing resources, professional devel- opment opportunities, regulatory advocacy, and networking events. Two prominent publications—the Dimension Stone Design Manual and Building Stone Magazine— raise awareness within the natural stone industry and in the design community for best practices and uses of natural stone. Learn more at www.naturalstoneinstitute.org.
T
largest tile contractor associa- tion, is sponsoring the World of Tile Pavilion at the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) CareerExpo, taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center on March 12-13 in Atlanta, Georgia.
CEFGA was founded in 1993 by construction leaders who recog- nized a need for quality construc- tion skills training in Georgia. The CEFGA CareerExpo links students directly to professionals in the areas of construction, utility contracting, highway contracting, electrical contracting, mechanical contracting, energy, mining and more. The event features hands-on displays that allow students to en- gage with industry leaders, equip- ment and materials and tap into their unique skills and interests.
According to Rod Owen, president of NTCA Five-Star Contractor C. C. Owen Tile Company, Inc., the organization held its first career fair in 2005, but the tile trade wasn’t represented
until 2008 when Owen asked for a space in the expo.
C. C. Owen Tile, leading tile manufacturer Daltile, and in- stallation materials supplier LATICRETE International will be co-sponsoring the Pavilion with NTCA. Together, the four entities are working to promote the ceramic tile industry as a lead- ing career opportunity to consider for high school age students at the 2020 event.
Owen believes the CareerExpo is a great avenue to display the op- portunities that are available in the tile industry, and is planning for an impact far beyond the day of the event. While he knows many students who come to the expo may use it as an excuse to get out of class, he hopes the experience will educate some of the students or their teachers about the oppor- tunities available. “[After attend- ing the expo], there might be that construction teacher that listened and understood the opportunities, and is now back in the classroom counseling students and advising them about their potential in our industry,” Owen said.
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 Natural stone and fabrication services for US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jesse Cottle and his family in Idaho were provided by Arizona Tile, Daltile, Salado, and Valley View Granite.
Jesse Cottle joined the US Marine Corps in 2003. On July 19, 2009, during his fourth de- ployment, Jesse and his Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were on foot patrol clearing improvised explosive devises in Helmand
services for US Army Sergeant Stefan LeRoy and his family in Florida were provided by Real Stone & Granite Corporation.
Stefan LeRoy enlisted in the Army in 2010. On June 7, 2012, while deployed in Afghanistan, two IEDs detonated and Stefan rushed to aid those injured by the blasts. While carrying an injured soldier to a Medevac helicop- ter, Stefan was struck by a third
he National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the world’s
Staff Sergeant Jessie Cottle with Kelly Cottle, and daughters Grace and Isla
              Stephan LeRoy and family at their new, specially-adapted smart home.
 “There are basically two types of people. People who accom- plish things, and peo- ple who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.” –MarkTwain
 







































































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