The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) recently honored Dr. Giorgio Squinzi of MAPEI with the Joe A. Tarver Cornerstone Award for Lifetime Achievement during Coverings 2010 in Orlando, FL.

During the awards presentation, a video highlighted events from the time of Dr. Squinzi’s birth into a family that owned a small flooring and coating business in Milan, Italy, to the role he plays today as the owner and CEO of MAPEI.

In support of standardizing installation practices in the tile and stone industry, since 1989 Dr. Squinzi has served as the Convenor of the International Organization of Standards (ISO) Technical Committee TC-67-WG-3. This committee developed the European Norms on tile-setting materials, now transformed into ISO 13007. These standards have recently been adopted by the Tile Council of North America and will appear in their new 2010 handbook.

Bart Bettiga, NTCA’s executive director, presented the Cornerstone Award to Dr. Squinzi with thanks for the continued support and investment he has provided to the tile and stone industry in North America and around the world. In response, Squinzi replied, “I feel very privileged to receive this award from the tile contractors of North America, who play such an important role in our business. They have made me a part of their family, and I hope they will all continue to share our future as a part of the MAPEI family.”