The ninth edition of Total Solutions Plus (TSP) was held from October 27 to 30, 2018, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, TX, where it welcomed more than 600 attendees. Distributors, manufacturers and contractors alike had the opportunity to participate in a range of educational sessions and attend various motivational speeches by relevant speakers.

The annual networking conference, held at the end of October each year, is organized collaboratively by the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the Tile Contractors’ Association of America (TCAA).

The opening reception, which was sponsored by Coverings, gave attendees the chance to meet and mingle over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The next morning, renowned quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Roger Staubach, kicked off TSP with his opening keynote, which was sponsored by Daltile. “It takes a lot of unspectacular preparation to get spectacular results,” he pointed out to the audience, as he discussed the trials and tribulations he faced during his lifelong career as a professional football player and real estate agent.

The conference also featured a concise education program, with more than a dozen beneficial sessions on different trending topics, such as Gauged Porcelain Tile Panels/Slabs and new OSHA standards. Attendees took away a wealth of knowledge from company representatives, who were readily available at each session to answer any questions and address any concerns.

The tabletop exhibits featured more than 65 companies this year, with new products, services and information — an increase from last year’s edition, which welcomed around 50 companies.

The next edition of TSP will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN, from October 26 to 29, 2019.