"I first opened my business with the help of a stranger, T. Best of Ceramic Tile Supply in Chattanooga. He opened my account and sent me samples of tile. I started with one van and my samples. We didn't rely on big advertising; our clients were our advertisers. Often in the early days people told me I could not make it by having hourly employees... 'Everyone uses subcontractors'. My response was, 'I cannot control the quality if I expect to use subcontractors, I will do it my way'.

"We continue to grow providing the highest quality workmanship for our clients. I believe in the product along with the impact it has on the environment - a non-polluting product with a most abundant natural resource: good old clay dirt. Quality is more important than quantity.

"Being a family business I've passed this virtue on to my children. My two sons, who began working with me at the age of 14, are today considered two of the best installers in East Tennessee. They recently were given "Elite" status when tested for tile installion skill by the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation.

"Ten other employees of our business were awarded their Certified Tile Installer certificates recently. we strive to stay on the cutting edge of product and method knowledge of the tile industry.

"We are now Knoxville's third oldest tile company. Many large corporations failed while we continue to grow, and now we have 30 full-time employees."