The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) has appointed industry veteran Michael Kephart to spearhead a comprehensive workforce development initiative aimed at strengthening Tennessee's ceramic tile manufacturing sector, partnering with eight leading tile manufacturers to address growing labor demands in the state's advanced manufacturing facilities.

Kephart, president of Kephart Group Inc., brings over 30 years of experience in ceramic tile development, distribution, manufacturing, and international trade to the Tennessee Workforce Development Project. His background includes executive roles at Dal-Tile and founding leadership as former president and CEO of Wonder Porcelain in Lebanon, Tennessee.

The appointment positions Kephart to leverage his deep industry knowledge and established relationships within Tennessee's tile manufacturing community to design and implement targeted education and training programs.

The initiative involves eight prominent Tennessee-based ceramic tile manufacturers: Crossville, Dal-Tile, Del Conca, Florim USA, Landmark Ceramics, Portobello America, StonePeak, and Wonder Porcelain. These companies operate some of the most advanced tile manufacturing facilities in the United States, producing world-class ceramic and porcelain tile products.

The participating manufacturers represent a significant portion of Tennessee's tile production capacity and provide a substantial employment base that the workforce development project aims to expand and strengthen.

The project will leverage Tennessee's historic $1 billion investment in workforce development, creating pathways for both students and career-changers to access high-quality opportunities in the tile industry. Kephart will collaborate with multiple state agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Tennessee Board of Regents, and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).

The initiative will work closely with Tennessee's network of higher education institutions, particularly the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT), to develop trade-focused training programs. These programs aim to increase workforce readiness and enhance career pathways specifically for ceramic tile advanced manufacturing roles. The educational component addresses both immediate industry needs and long-term workforce sustainability in a sector experiencing significant growth and technological advancement.

"This Tennessee Workforce Development Project is a critical step forward in ensuring our industry's future growth and success," said Eric Astrachan, executive director of TCNA. "Michael's deep industry knowledge, leadership experience, and longstanding support of TCNA and the tile industry make him uniquely qualified to guide this initiative."

Astrachan emphasized that Kephart's "ability to connect business needs with workforce training strategies will provide tremendous value to the state and our member companies," highlighting the project's focus on aligning educational outcomes with industry requirements.

The workforce development initiative comes as Tennessee's ceramic tile manufacturing sector continues expanding, with companies investing in advanced production technologies and increasing capacity. The state's competitive advantages—including strategic location, logistics infrastructure, and business-friendly environment—have attracted significant tile manufacturing investment in recent years.

The project represents a proactive approach to addressing skilled labor shortages that could otherwise constrain industry growth and limit companies' ability to capitalize on market opportunities in the expanding ceramic tile sector.