Thomas Brady Cal Tile Center 5108 W 190th Street Torrance, CA  90503
Michael J, Nisenbaum Exquisite Tile Corp. 23822 Velencia Blvd #303 Valencia, CA 91355
Thomas Domenici Tom Domenici, CTC, CSI, C54 Omega Products International 1681 California Avenue Corona, CA  92881 Office:  951.737.7447 Mobile:  714.331.1822
Lindell Lummer Malibu Art Tile & Stone 2761 Triunfo Canyon Road Cornell, CA 91301
Bill Klaser Klaser Tile Co. 2639 Highland Avenue National City, CA 91950
John D. Wirtz Wirtz Tile & Stone Inc. 7932 Armour St. San Diego, CA 92111

 

Thomas Brady, CTC

Tom started in the tile industry while in college as a tile helper. after graduating from California State College Fullerton in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, he continued to work as a tile helper. In 1975 he started working for Ceramic Tile Center, Long Beach California and has been with them since. He opened the Torrance Branch in 1978 and managed that location until 1993 when he moved back to the Torrance Location.

Tom is a 1982 graduate of the CTIOA Inc. Ceramic Tile Consultant Program, an associate member of the Associated Tile Contractors of Southern California, member of the CTDA and past two term President of Club’84, Tile Industry Action Group.

Thomas Domenici, CTC,CSI,C54

Tom Domenici has been involved with every aspect of the tile and stone industry. After graduating from University of California at Berkeley, he went through the Union Apprenticeship Program, became a journeyman, foreman, acquired a 54 license, and worked for George Lavenberg and the Ceramic Tile Institute. He then went on to estimate and manage a commercial and residential contracting company, was with Custom Building Products as the Technical and Architectural Manager, and then with Interceramic as Architectural Manager. More recently after a few years doing custom residential work with his brothers in Southern California, Tom is currently Western Technical Manager, for HB Fuller-cp.

He has continued involvement with CTIOA,NTCA,CSI, and AIA. Considered an expert in the field of tile and stone, he has also become a resource for related areas including concrete, masonry, waterproofing, restoration, plastering, and more. Happily married with four children, he plays and writes music and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (1500 miles)

LINDELL L. LUMMER, CTC

Mr. Lummer’s involvement in ceramic tile, granite and marble touches all aspects: design, creation, consulting, supervision, importing, tile & stone restoration, manufacturing of custom handmade tile and decorative hardware, installation, subject matter expert and educated lecturer.

Lindell’s diversified expertise and commitment to quality of product and installation have provided him with the opportunity to collaborate with world renowned architectural and interior design firms, general contractors, owners and developers, who have awarded him with prestigious contracts for residential, commercial and the historical renovation projects, the most recent being the U.S. Post Office & Court House in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In 1958, while a teenager, Lindell began making ceramic grates and reproducing Malibu Pottery Tiles under the supervision of his uncle at Miller’s Ceramics in Ontario, California. This was the beginning of Malibu Tile and his lifetime love and commitment to historical restoration.

From 1965 – 1970 Lindell worked with Assembly Homes, Inc. as an Administrative Assistant and later in Construction Management.

In the seventies, he became a journeyman with Oney Masonry in Kansas City, MO and then returned to California to work with L & L Ceramic Tile first, as a helper and then as a tile installer until he obtained his C-54 Tile Contractor’s License. Then as co-owner of A Touch of Tile (a retail store), he imported from distinguished quarries in Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Israel, India and Brazil allowing him to provide finished products directly from the country of origin to any jobsite, and installed to retain artistic control of his commissioned handmade tile and for the custom marble and granite fabrication. The store provided a single source contact for all types of dimensional stone, custom ceramic tile, and services for any sized project to both commercial and residential clients in the U.S. as well as Europe and the Far East.

In conjunction with the retail store, Malibu Art Tile (a wholesale custom handmade tile manufacturing studio) was established where he once again returned to his dream of reproducing the Malibu tiles. The tile studio, along with a stone fabrication shop were opened to ensure the quality of the tile and stone used in each undertaking he assumed as contractor and general superintendent.

In 1989, the retail store was closed to allow more devotion to the ever-increasing demand for the handmade tiles and stone. By now, Lindell’s knowledge on natural stones and expertise on installation had become widespread in the industry; and he was asked to joint International Granite and Marble Inc. as their general superintendent where hr remained until 1999.

In 1999, Lindell obtained his C-29 Masonry License and formed Malibu Art Tile & Stone Masonry Contractors.

WILLIAM R. KLASER, CTC

As owner of Klaser Tile Company since 1974, I have been involved with most all phases of the installation of ceramic tile. Since 1985, my business has specialized in commercial side of tile installations, with an emphasis in the adhered veneer applications, and ceramic tile domes. For some years now my operation employs around 50 tile setters and helpers. It has always been the policy of Klaser Tile Company to install quality installation and follow the trade guidelines as Standards of the Tile Industry.

I was first introduced the Ceramic Tile Institute by Herman Schock in 1978, and at that time took the CTC course. During this time, the CTI was a valuable source of information to me and had a lot to do with my understanding the correct way the install tile. Since 1978 I have kept my CTC certification every year, and have participated with the institute. I am currently on the Technical Committee and enjoy participating with issues involving the installation of our trade.

During my career, I have found the CTIOA to be the source of information for the the ceramic tile trade and I have used this information extensively to better promote my tile work. I feel at this point in my career, as I continue to be a student of the Industry, I also have an obligation to pass on any of the knowledge I have attained to help promote the better installation of ceramic tile.

Michael J. Nisenbaum

JOHN D. WIRTZ

His father John Q, Wirtz first introduced John to the tile industry at a very early age of 3 years old. He later accompanied him on many weekend Jobs throughout his youth. They worked most weekends together through his high school years. Here is a brief time line of John D.Wirtz.

1971-1972: John worked as a union tile helper
1972: Co founded Wirtz Tile, along with his father, John Q. Wirtz
1972-1973: Worked as helper, apprentice, and truck driver for Partnership.
1974: Co founded Wirtz Tile, Inc., a family corporation.
1974 –1982: Corporations Vice-President
Duties consisted of working in the filed, scheduling, job walks and estimating.
Mostly worked in the residential sector.

1982-1983 Performed most of the CEO activities, contract review, job scheduling, estimating, purchasing, prepare billings and collections.
1993: Co founded Wirtz Tile & Stone, Inc.
1993-Present: Corporations Vice-President & President. Gained control of all CEO activities.
Past Association Involvement
• Due to recognized expertise has been used as an expert witness in a court case and forensic discovery.
• Past Board of Director for the Southwestern College Foundation Board.
• Past Board of Director, Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the National City Employees Federal Credit Union.
• Past member of Southern California Ceramic Tile Association, served as Vice President and President.
• Graduate of CTIOA CTC Consultant Class. Returned to teach plan reading for class.