NTCA Names 2024 Tile Setter Craftspersons
JACKSON, Miss. – Juan “Junior” Mercado and Jeff Occhipinti are the recipients of the Tile Setter Craftsperson of the Year Awards from the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA).
The awards honor exceptional tile professionals for their dedication, craftsmanship and industry leadership.
Mercado, of Christian Brothers Flooring & Interiors in Lakeside, Calif., is the Commercial Tile Setters Craftsperson of the Year. He’s spent more than 25 years in the tile industry, advancing from apprentice to a superintendent at Christian Brothers.
Mercado became one of the earliest Certified Tile Installers, and for six years he had led high-profile commercial projects, including Petco Park in San Diego, where he used his expertise in the installation of exterior sandstone in complex architectural designs.
On a recent multi-family project, Mercado insisted on adjustments to the backerboard and devised a custom mortar-bed system to ensure compliance with NTCA standards. He is known for his emphasis on safety, quality and training in his work with apprentices, instilling both good technical skills and a strong work ethic.
Occhipinti, a tile professional since 2003 and founder of Columbia River Tile & Stone in Portland, Ore., is the Residential Craftsperson of the Year. He’s a leader in the field, known for both traditional installations and innovative work.
A Certified Tile Installer and NTCA Five-Star Accredited Contractor, Occhipinti earned advanced certifications for tile installers in multiple disciplines. He’s also a founding member and instructor of the Oregon-Columbia Tile Trades JATC tile apprenticeship program, which earned national recognition.
This year’s awards were announced at the Total Solutions Plus conference in Boston and will be presented at the Ambassador Reception on Jan. 27, during TISE in Las Vegas.
