Laticrete International, Inc. has promoted Ron Nash to the position of regional sales manager for the California Southern region (CAS). In his new position, Nash will oversee Laticrete sales efforts in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Hawaii and Southern California.

Laticrete has also named Nick Macrino as architectural group manager. A 26-year veteran of sales and management in the ceramic tile industry, Macrino has been with Laticrete for two years, educating architects and designers on the Laticrete system.

Lastly, Laticrete has promoted Walt Stivers to the position of sales manager for the Indiana region. Stivers will manage the company’s sales efforts in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio, western Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Giorgio Squinzi, ceo of the MAPEI Group, was officially awarded the Leonardo Quality Prize for Italy by Giorgio Napoletano, president of the Italian Republic. The prize was given by the Italian Quality Committee “Comitato Leonardo.”

Crossville, Inc. has appointed Frank Douglas vp of business development. Douglas has been at Crossville for 10 years, most recently as director of national account sales. Prior to Crossville, Douglas owned a tile distribution business.

Italian stone and tile manufacturer GranitiFiandre has promoted Jeanne Nichols to vp – sales and marketing, and Marcello Sassi to vp – national accounts. 

Nichols and Sassi work for TransCeramica, the marketing and sales arm of GranitiFiandre in the United States. Both will report directly to Graziano Verdi, ceo of the GranitiFiandre Group.

SpecCeramics, Inc. announces its newest Los Angeles sales team member, Robert Walker. He will be the Western Los Angeles County architectural sales representative, teaming with Will Sapp, SpecCeramics’ general sales manager, who will continue to focus on Downtown L.A. clients. Walker arrives at SpecCeramics with more than 20 years of tile and stone industry experience.

Best Tile Distributors has recently named Jane Boynton as vp of sales for its new Warwick, R.I. location. In her new position, Boynton will be responsible for all outside sales in the Rhode Island area with her husband John, who manages the Warwick location.

Florim USA has added Ron Spezzaferri and Gene Dingman as regional vp’s of sales. Spezzaferri brings over 20 years industry experience to this position, including 13 years as a regional manager at Crossville, Inc. 

Dingman, an industry veteran of 25 years, comes to Florim from StonePeak.

Subsequent to its earlier acquisition by Panariagroup Industrie Ceramiche, Florida Tile, Inc. has announced its following changes. Buck Burwell, ceo, has departed. On March 31, John Corcoran will transition out as chief financial officer, and Bill Powers will transition out as sr. vp of sales and distribution May 31. Moving forward, Bernie Schwartz, vp, will continue responsibilities for manufacturing, Massimo Barbari will be vp of sales and distribution, and Luca Setti will be vp/cfo for finance, accounting and business operations.

TJ Ceramic Tile Sales, Inc. has named Jessi Dakota Ciak as design consultant. Ciak’s responsibilities include assisting homeowners, interior designers and architects to select tile with matching marble or granite for kitchens, bathrooms, fireplace surrounds or floors.