Recognition followed Gary Sinise keynote address sponsored by MAPEI Corporation

MAPEI Corporation announced today that Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI North America, has been awarded the National Tile Contractors Association’s (NTCA) prestigious Joe A. Tarver Service to the Industry Award for 2026. Di Geso was formally honored during Coverings 2026, following the Gary Sinise keynote address – an event that was proudly sponsored by MAPEI.

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MAPEI North America's President and CEO Luigi Di Geso receives the Joe A. Tarver Award from NTCA's Executive Director Bart Bettiga at Coverings 2026.

Presented annually to one U.S.-based industry professional, the Joe A. Tarver Award recognizes individuals whose careers reflect extraordinary service, leadership and long-term impact on the tile and stone industry. Named after NTCA Executive Director Emeritus Joe Tarver, the award honors those who have strengthened the industry through advocacy, education and collaboration.

In announcing the award, Bart Bettiga, Executive Director of NTCA, praised Di Geso’s decades of commitment to the trade, stating: "The Joe Tarver Award is given to an individual who positively impacts the tile industry throughout their career. As the leader of MAPEI North America, Luigi Di Geso has left an indelible footprint on the tile and stone trade. MAPEI supports the NTCA and the entire industry in our effort to grow the tile market. MAPEI is a leader in training and education and through sponsorship and association support, they play a leading role in the proper specification of tile-installation materials, resulting in successful installations. Luigi and the entire team at MAPEI are deeply appreciated by the members and leaders of the National Tile Contractors Association and we are honored to recognize his accomplishments."

"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from NTCA,” Di Geso said. “I love this industry and the people who make it what it is. My goal has always been to strengthen professionalism, education and collaboration among manufacturers, associations, distributors and contractors. When individuals grow, the entire industry grows – and that has guided my career every day."

Di Geso has been a member of the MAPEI family for more than two decades. From 2004 to 2009, he served as General Manager of MAPEI’s Canadian subsidiary before being appointed President and CEO of MAPEI North America. Under his leadership, the company has expanded from three product lines to 19, while increasing its operational footprint from 12 to 28 facilities across North America and the Caribbean.

During Di Geso’s tenure, MAPEI North America’s revenue has grown from $260 million to more than $1 billion annually, reflecting a strategy centered on innovation, sustainability and long-term investment. Di Geso has championed the development of environmentally responsible technologies that support circular construction practices and low-impact manufacturing.

Beyond MAPEI, Di Geso remains deeply engaged in advancing the broader construction industry, collaborating with more than 80 professional organizations that include the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada and the Italian-Canadian Community Foundation.

Di Geso’s leadership emphasizes cross-functional excellence, integrating research and development, marketing, sales, customer service and technical services to deliver solutions that contractors can trust – reinforcing MAPEI’s reputation as a long-term partner for professionals across the building sector.

Di Geso received the Joe A. Tarver Award during the NTCA/TCNA Awards Program at Coverings 2026, which was held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

About MAPEI

Founded in 1937 in Milan, MAPEI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry and has contributed to the construction of some of the most important architectural and infrastructure works worldwide. With 98 subsidiaries operating in 59 countries and 106 manufacturing plants in 42 nations, MAPEI Group employs about 13,200 staff worldwide. The foundations for the success of the company are specialization, internationalization, research & development, and sustainability.

Headquartered in Deerfield Beach (Florida), MAPEI North America consists of the subsidiaries MAPEI Corporation (for the USA), MAPEI Inc. (for Canada) and MAPEI Caribe (for Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands), whose 28 facilities collectively have a workforce of about 2,000 employees. MAPEI facilities are certified to be in conformance with requirements in the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Standards for Management Systems. An environmentally conscious manufacturer that reinvests a percentage of its revenue into R&D, MAPEI offers training for architects, contractors, installers and distributors through the MAPEI Technical Institute. For more about MAPEI, visit www.mapei.com or call 1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734).

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