Flooring America Honor Mike Englert

Manchester, NH, March 21, 2007--Flooring America and Flooring Canada paid a heartfelt tribute to their friend and colleague, Mike Englert, during their recent convention in Dallas, March 8-10.

Mike Englert was 53 when he died of cancer in February. A beloved executive who was known for his infectious optimism and selfless devotion to members, he served as Flooring America’s vice president for merchandising, and then as vice president for soft surface purchasing for CCA. Flooring America President Vinnie Virga recalled Mike’s proud record of accomplishment, and his outsized exuberance.

“Anyone who knew Mike would know that he would not want us caught up in the sorrow of his loss, but rather would want us to celebrate the incredible legacy of his life, which is a testament to the importance of family, integrity, hard work, and friends,” said Virga. “He was our hero, our friend, and our business partner who helped us get better every single day. We miss him, and his good works and overflowing personality will never be forgotten.”

To honor Mike’s memory and legacy, members made a group donation in Mike’s name to Flooring America’s national charity, the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement. Flooring America also created the Mike Englert award to honor Mike’s indomitable optimism and commitment to the flooring group.

Dave Griggs of Dave Griggs’ Flooring America in Columbia, MO received the inaugural Mike Englert Award, which will be presented each year at Flooring America and Canada’s winter convention. The award recognizes a member who has exhibited an outstanding commitment to Flooring America and Canada, and to fellow members without ever compromising his or her integrity.

“This is a very humbling honor to receive the Mike Englert Award,” said Griggs. “We all miss Mike. He made us better, and he did it with a special generosity of spirit and always with a great big smile. One of the best ways to remember Mike is just to work hard and help each other. That’s Mike’s legacy, and that’s how we’ll make him proud.” 

Flooring America and Flooring Canada, with a sales volume of $1.65 billion, consist of more than 580 member-owned floor covering stores throughout the United States and Canada. They operate as a division of CCA Global Partners, the world’s largest flooring group.