Ed Metcalf, president of LATICRETE (North America), has been selected by the Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) as the recipient of its first annual Tile Partner of the Year Award. The award was presented during the recently concluded Coverings 2009 exhibition in Chicago.

Metcalf was recognized for his “continued support of the mission of Habitat for Humanity, and for spearheading a company-wide commitment from LATICRETE, including not just product donation, but countless hours of labor and technical support to the cause,” LATICRETE said.

“The LATICRETE family believes in the mission of Habitat for Humanity,” said Metcalf. “LATICRETE sees Tile Partners for Humanity as an ideal channel for us, and for our whole industry, to become involved and to ‘give back.’ We encourage everyone in our industry to get involved by contacting TPFH today.”

Curt Rapp, the Tile Doctor and founder/chairman of Tile Partners for Humanity, talks about Metcalf, LATICRETE and first annual award from TPFH: “We started looking back at the last six years, cumulatively, and found Ed to really be that one single person and LATICRETE to be that one company. Without them we wouldn’t be here right now. The way that Ed got behind us and rallied his company made the decision almost a no-brainer. Of course, we appreciate the support and the contributions that we have gotten from every one, but Ed was that one person that really stood above the rest.”

Bart Bettiga, NTCA executive director and vice chairman for the Tile Partners for Humanity, added, “Tile Partners for Humanity has been around long enough now that we felt we wanted to start recognizing someone on an annual basis that has helped it sustain its mission. Ed Metcalf was far and away the very first person we thought of. It was a unanimous decision by the Board of Directors.