2025 Emerging Leaders: This year’s winners have a wide range of interests and experience while advancing in the industry – Feb 2025
Small businesses, defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, employ 46.4% of the private sector (61.7 million workers) and are responsible for 43.5% of the nation’s GDP, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. So, it is critical to foster the next generation of leaders within their ranks.
Each year, Floor Focus welcomes nominations of up-and-coming standouts under the age of 40 from the dealer/distributor/contractor sector of the flooring industry-much of which is made up of small businesses. In addition to being leaders in the workplace, many of this year’s winners positively impact the quality of life within their communities, volunteering their time to humanitarian causes outside of their work hours.
Judging the field of nominations this year were marketing consultant Paul Friederichsen and Jeanne Matson, consultant with the National Cooperative Business Association and former CEO of Starnet.
JORDAN ANDERSON, 38
Great Floors, Silverdale Branch Manager
• Earned bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Idaho
• After just a year in Great Floors’ manager training program, took responsibility for an underperforming store and transformed it into a consistently top-performing store in less than two years
• Upon taking over the branch, convinced several essential former employees to come back and now oversees 15 people
• Operates his own oyster farm on Puget Sound
SARA ANTONIO, 33
GP Flooring Solutions, Project Manager
• Earned bachelor’s degree with a focus on communications
• Despite only one year with GP Flooring Solutions, is now mentoring and developing new assistant project managers
• Took the lead on challenging Veteran’s Administration hospital project, requiring meticulous coordination with a diverse group of stakeholders
• Completed 17 half marathons since 2020 and recently completed her first full marathon
• Volunteers at a community cooperative pre-K and with Empowering People’s Independence, an advocacy program for individuals with developmental disabilities, epilepsy and brain injuries
JACOB CLARY, 36
Spartan Surfaces, Director of Business Development - Southeast
• Earned bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and several certificates from Harvard Business School
• After starting as an estimator for healthcare projects, progressed to running the healthcare division, then became the company’s youngest director of sales
• Helped grow territory sales from $18 million to $43+ million in three years
• Planned and launched a new property management division
• Climbed Mt. Fuji
ANDREW CONKLIN, 32
M. Frank Higgins & Co., Project Manager
• Earned bachelor’s degree in building and construction from the University of Massachusetts
• Began in the estimation department of M. Frank Higgins & Co. but quickly transitioned to project manager due to strategic thinking skills and strong work ethic
• Doubled size of his portfolio by increasing his direct work percentage and collaborating with the estimations team to win public bid projects
• In supporting the company’s floorcare division, has won significant projects, including a prestigious university floor maintenance contract
JOSH KEMPER, 30
Sterling Carpet & Flooring, Operations Manager
• In the top 10% of Sterling’s sales force within one year of joining the company, before moving to the management side
• Became a certified flooring inspector after seeing a gap between local independent inspectors and vendor inspectors, has reduced customer issues via this new role
• Cut costs and raised profits after taking over operations for both of the company’s locations
• Led Sterling’s transition to a new software system
• Is a marathoner who runs in charity races for various causes, in addition to volunteering through his church
HEATHER NICHOLS, 39
ACS Flooring Group Inc., Director of Business Development
• Earned bachelor’s degree in interior design from the Art Institute of Houston and is a registered interior designer
• Supervises ACS’ specifiers, implementing strategies for tracking and attaining projects and creating marketing plans for A&D
• Previously worked at Tarkett, awarded a Tarkett President’s Club trip for exceeding sales goals
• Steers ACS’ philanthropic efforts in the community, including its recent first-ever A&D Community Coat Drive
ANTHONY PATELLA JR., 31
Patella Carpet & Tile, Director of Business Operations
• Earned bachelor of business development degree from Youngstown State University
• Demonstrates exceptional leadership in talent acquisition and team building, and actively recruits and hires top-tier foremen and technicians
• Spearheaded Patella’s strategic move to a larger flex space, resulting in streamlined workflows, improved day-to-day operations and a more productive and efficient work environment
• Supports Youngstown Cityscape, an organization dedicated to beautifying and revitalizing downtown Youngstown
GUNNAR PENNINGTON, 30
Jack Laurie Group, Senior Field Superintendent
• After beginning as an entry-level helper at 16, cross-trained in various flooring disciplines, instrumental in executing complex flooring packages for high-profile clients
• Leads a team of three superintendents and all ceramic and sports flooring execution, having become a foreman by age 19, general foreman at age 23, superintendent at age 28 and, recently, senior superintendent
• Plays key leadership role in the Indianapolis Commercial Floors team
• Volunteers with his church, where he serves on the worship team and participates in men’s ministry groups
EMMA REED, 37
GP Flooring Solutions NYC, Project Executive
• Earned bachelor’s degree in art history from Virginia Commonwealth University
• Consistently tackles complex projects with a proactive and results-oriented approach
• Fosters strong relationships with key general contractors in the region and collaborates with manufacturers to develop valuable customer relationships
• Actively embraces training opportunities and readily adopts new technologies to streamline project workflow
VINNIE VIRGA JR., 32
Floors & More, President
Ocala, Florida • Age: 32
• Helped grow Floors & More from 60 to nearly 110 locations across the U.S. and southern Ontario
• Developed a five-year plan for the group
• Runs Floors & More’s advisory group meetings, group virtual roundtable discussions and convention
• Was regional manager of five retail flooring stores prior to Floors & More
• Volunteers and supports The Salvation Army
Copyright 2025 Floor Focus
Related Topics:GP Flooring Solutions, Starnet, Great Floors, Tarkett