Focus on Leadership: How Zack Adamson found purpose, perspective and success at Engineered Floors – June 2025
Interview by Kemp Harr
Zack Adamson’s path to earning the leadership role for the commercial flooring division at Engineered Floors didn’t follow a conventional blueprint. It’s a story shaped by perseverance, mentorship and deep family roots in Dalton, Georgia. With a background in risk management and early experience in insurance sales, Adamson joined Engineered Floors in 2012 and steadily rose through the ranks.
Zack’s wife, Anna, is Bob Shaw’s granddaughter. The pair met when he was a line cook at Chattanooga’s Aretha Frankensteins restaurant. Zack and Anna live in Dalton and have two children, ages 16 and 12.
Q: How did a guy who graduated with a degree in risk management from the University of Georgia end up running Engineered Floors’ commercial flooring business?
A: I attended a few different business school symposiums at the University of Georgia, and the head of the department gave a presentation about the risk management program. What struck me most was that the major had 100% job placement. That was a big deal in ’06, and I was certain not even I could mess that up. After college, I worked in the insurance business and developed selling and relationship-building skills and was mentored by some incredible people. I started working for EF in March of 2012. At the time, we had one manufacturing facility and just under 500 employees. Much has changed since then, and, with one lucky break after another, I was presented the opportunity to lead J+J and EF Contract, and it has been an honor to do so these last two years.
Q: Your father is a salesman in the flooring industry, and your mother is an interior designer. What influence did that background have on how you’ve focused your career today?
A: My parents, John and Barbara, are heroes of mine. They started a family at age 20 and poured into my sister, Shelley; my brother, Jay; and me. Having not graduated from college, they ensured that we did. They instilled a work ethic in the three of us that has endured. Dad is the consummate rush chair-the affable salesman. Mom’s creativity and tireless work ethic are unrivaled. Both were successful in their careers. I draw inspiration from how they have prevailed over the challenges they have faced. They did what they had to to make certain their children could do whatever they wanted to.
Q: Based on your home center experience at EF, do you think the small, family-run businesses that are the lifeblood of the flooring industry should be concerned about home centers’ ability to continue to take share away from them?
A: That is a great question. Based on my experience, it can be gratifying to an independent floorcovering store/service provider that the home centers see them as such worthy competitors despite the apparent size and scale differences. There will always be room for nimble, creative businesses in our industry. We see it every day.
Q: The commercial flooring business has a diverse group of influencers who decide what product ends up on the floor-the A&D designer, the general contractor, the facility manager/building owner and the flooring contractor. Where does EF focus its resources to ensure growth?
A: We are in a highly competitive marketplace. We cannot just provide a beautiful product-we must also have the right sales professionals in place in the territories to engage with these varied customer groups successfully. And we also must provide competitive value and service models to ensure sustainable relationships. Each of these groups rates the aforementioned concepts in varied hierarchies, and it is up to us to present this to each group.
We work to meet the specifier’s needs with solutions to their plans, and when we are called upon by contractors and end users to support them, our track record with them precedes us.
Q: What does EF do to make sure it has differentiated commercial products that perform?
A: It is a collaborative effort. It starts with the vision and creativity of our design groups to meet the needs of our customers. From there, our teams in manufacturing, quality and customer relations build consensus around each product. Does it lend itself to a successful install? Are there modifications that can be made to help it run through manufacturing more efficiently? This process helps ensure that each new product serves a market need and has the best opportunity to be a winner.
Q: Tell us about an “aha” moment in your career that helped reinforce what it takes to be successful in business?
A: If someone you respect believes in you, trust them. Don’t wait until you are 100% ready to pursue the next big thing. Say “yes” and know that the people who believed in you will be behind you to support you.
Q: What character traits do you look for in candidates when you are building your team?
A: We are constantly looking for the most qualified people who fit our needs, but more importantly, those who will fit our culture. Our culture has been defined and honed over many years. Once the culture is solid, you do everything to protect it. Our team believes in that, and my primary focus is to ensure that it continues.
Q: Who are your mentors who have helped you make the right decisions both personally and professionally?
A: I am grateful to have had a number of mentors in my life, and I am thankful to still be able to rely on them today.
Prior to joining EF, I worked for Jim Mathews and his family’s company selling insurance. He was always more excited about my personal success than his own. I have tried to emulate that same enthusiasm with our sales and organizational teams.
Blaine Eakins, who runs our commercial sales organization, built a successful territory, then built the most successful region and now runs our entire commercial sales organization, and we continue to reach new heights under his leadership.
I would be remiss if I did not mention Mr. Shaw. He is the magnanimous leader who sets the tone for all departments in our company. He is the industry titan who believes there is still so much more to accomplish. He competes every day and inspires us all to be better.
Q: We’ve worked together on industry panel discussions, and you seem to be comfortable in your skin and quick-witted. Where did you learn this skill?
A: It’s a false sense of confidence, which remains largely unchecked. I am actively working on this. Maybe it was all the cold-calling early on in my career, or maybe you have only caught me in some of my better moments. Either way, that is very generous of you to say.
Q: You and your wife, Anna, have two children. How do you balance your time so that you are able to succeed both as a father and a husband but also as a business leader?
A: This is the easiest question to answer. As a professional in the written word, you know that one proper noun does not form a complete sentence, but the answer to this question is just that. Anna! My wife and I have two children (16 and 12) who lead very busy lives and do not run out of opportunities for us to contribute to them. Anna works tirelessly in her professional career as a nonprofit leader in Dalton and as the leader of the household to ensure we accomplish our professional goals and spend time together as a family. I am hopeful that our children see how rewarding it can be to set goals, accomplish them and then set even greater ones.
Q: What advice do you give your children so that they are prepared to lead both purposeful and happy lives?
A: We encourage them to work hard, not just for the grades, but because hard work creates opportunities. Create more opportunities for yourself, and you will have more pathways to explore to find out what will truly drive you professionally. Their mother is a wonderful example of someone who has followed her passion to the height of her profession. And, in case they want to work for the family business, I always encourage them to continue to be nice to their uncles, William and Joe Young.
Q: What do you do for fun when you aren’t focused on work?
A: My son has recently picked up golf. He will beat me soon (low bar), and I am excited about that! He and I will go on a few golf trips over the next year, along with a couple of sporting events.
My daughter and I try to go to a few concerts each year. This summer, we will go back to Bonnaroo, so we are making those plans now.
As a family, we like to attend shows, go to games and take a few vacations and long weekends together. And sometimes the kids are not invited!
Other than that, I am very thankful to live where I grew up-Dalton, Georgia. My parents still live in the house I grew up in, and Anna’s brothers’ families, her parents and grandfather all live on our street. Many of the men and women I grew up with have planted roots here and are all contributing to the fabric of this community. We do not have to go far to have fun with family and close friends.
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