Oatey Co. Hosts Tile Contractor Influencers at Oatey University for Inaugural Tile Installer Summit Event
Tile industry social media influencers were invited to Cleveland for an immersive training and networking experience, with an emphasis on Oatey’s QuickDrain shower system.
CLEVELAND, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 — Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer of plumbing products since 1916, recently hosted its inaugural Tile Installer Summit for social media influencers in the tile industry. The invitation-only event, which took place August 16-17, 2023, in Cleveland, brought together eleven tile contractors from across the U.S. for an immersive training and networking experience led by Oatey product and technical experts.
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The event’s exclusive attendee list included eleven top-tier tile contractors with exceptional social media content-creation skills, representing all regions of the country: Mario Gonzales, Thomas Young, Ryan Krishnan, Omar Carrillo, Matthew Scott, Nathan Merrill, Randal Sabino, Donald Bennett, Neil Levens, Jordan Turbyfill and Barrett Hines.
Hosted at Oatey’s world-class training facility, Oatey University, the Tile Installer Summit featured a robust, hands-on, two-day agenda. Attendees toured Oatey’s manufacturing facility and Oatey University, gaining in-depth knowledge about the production and functionality of Oatey’s expansive line of products. They also participated in training on ASTM standards for solvent-welding PVC pipe and competed in a burst test competition to identify the solvent-welded joint that withstood the most pressure.
The pinnacle of the event was in-depth training on Oatey’s line of drain and shower system products, including QuickDrain, an innovative shower solution that offers best-in-class accessibility, flexibility, and ease of installation. After receiving thorough training, attendees installed QuickDrain ShowerLine linear drain systems in custom build pods at Oatey University, experiencing first-hand QuickDrain’s differentiating features, including lightweight PET (polyethylene terephthalate) foam shower pans, made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
In addition, the tile contractors spoke extensively with Oatey’s product development, marketing, and sales teams, providing input, perspective, and feedback on their experiences in the field and the products and solutions from Oatey that can best support them on the job site.
“Oatey is deeply committed to connecting with and listening to our end users,” said Katherine Lehtinen, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oatey. “While we are known most prominently in the plumbing trade, we are thrilled to be investing in our relationships with tile contractors, who also frequently use a range of Oatey products.
“The Tile Installer Summit provided a unique opportunity for us to spend time with some of the most influential tile contractors across the country, share more about Oatey and QuickDrain, and hear their incredibly valuable perspectives,” she continued. “We’re grateful for the time each of them invested to learn and grow together.”
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ABOUT OATEY CO.
Since 1916, Oatey has provided reliable, high-quality products for the residential and commercial plumbing industries, with a commitment to delivering quality, building trust and improving lives. Today, Oatey operates a comprehensive manufacturing and distribution network to supply thousands of products for professional builders, contractors, engineers and do-it-yourself consumers around the world.
Oatey is based in Cleveland, Ohio, and has locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. For more information, visit www.oatey.com, call (800) 321-9532 or follow Oatey on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
CONTACT:
John O’Reilly
Madelyn Young
Greenhouse Digital + PR
[email protected]
[email protected]
708.428.6385

Eleven top-tier tile contractors with exceptional social media content-creation skills, representing all regions of the country.
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Attendees installed QuickDrain ShowerLine linear drain systems in custom build pods at Oatey University.
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Image Size: 6″ wide x 4.5″ high
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Attendees participated in training on ASTM standards for solvent-welding PVC pipe and competed in a burst test competition to identify the solvent-welded joint that withstood the most pressure.
Download Lo-Res Image
Download Hi-Res Image
Image Size: 6″ wide x 4.5″ high
(Lo-Res: 432 × 324; Hi-Res: 1800 x 1350 pixels)
