Another year has seemingly flew by and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. I can’t believe we’re already wrapping up 2019. Sometimes I wish time would just slow down, but I’m also eager to see what new things 2020 has in store.

Cersaie is the largest international exhibition for ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, which is held annually in Bologna, Italy. This year, approximately 900 exhibitors showcased their newest, most innovative products to more than 112,000 visitors from all over the world.

This year, Total Solutions Plus (TSP) took place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN, from October 27 to 29. For the last 10 years, TSP has welcomed countless professionals in the tile industry to network and learn from each other.

Offering a new living concept, Uptown in Milan is the first Italian smart district, entirely powered by geothermal energy and a district heating network, which focuses primarily on quality of life and services.

In this edition, we sat down with Erin Albrecht, principal and executive vice president at J&R Tile, Inc. in San Antonio, TX, which is a National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Five-Star Contractor and Ardex Choice Contractor.

A couple of years ago, Niagara College in Ontario, Canada invested tens of millions of dollars in renovating and redesigning its two campuses — Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) and Welland (WC) — to make the college experience more appealing for students with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.

In this edition, we sat down with Dirk Sullivan, owner of Hawthorne Tile in Portland, OR. Sullivan is currently the only NTCA Five Star Contractor in the Northwest. He serves on NTCA’s Board of Directors, and is also part of NTCA’s membership and training and education committees.

In the late 15th century, under the Ottoman Empire, craftsmen of İznik created their own rendition of ceramic tile by replacing the traditional clay used with quartz. The innovative technique produced a bright white base, which made the four traditional colors found in İznik pieces.

For this edition, we sat down with Jeremy Waldorf, owner of Legacy Floors L.L.C. in Howell, MI, who assumed the role of regional business manager at HPS Schönox in May of this year.

Summer is in full effect. Warmer weather is bringing smiles to everyone's faces, much-needed vacations are finally being taken, and spontaneous late nights are becoming the new normal. Aside from endless ice cream and poolside memories, what is there not to love about this time of year?