San Diego County Site of Flooring Install Event

San Diego, CA, April 23, 2007—April 14 was an exciting day for flooring installation in San Diego, CA. Presented by the San Diego County Floor Covering Association and under the direction of Gary Bedrosian of The Kuske Company, over 150 installers from across the region and Mexico arrived to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Gary welcomed the group to the Spring Training Camp for installers and dealers. He explained, “Working together, everyone benefits from a wealth of installation knowledge in this format. We have arranged for the top professionals in the trade to share their knowledge. Success in business is based on skill, attitude and adaptability. Floor Excellence offers lessons that can positively contribute to each of these.”

Jim Walker, CEO of the CFI encouraged the group to be proud of themselves, their choice of work and to be excited every day because of the opportunity to create another custom installation. Walker said, “Flooring installation starts in your heart; you must want to be the best. You make it happen. If you are not excited about this career choice, you need to move on and find something that motivates you. This industry needs the proud professionals. By attending this outstanding event, it is evident that you care about your work.”

Jon Namba stated during the patterned carpet workshop, “Installing this type of carpet requires the finest hand skills and knowledge. Patterned carpet requires more time and expertise to do the work correctly. Working in small groups, we will install the carpet in the modules and keep the patterns aligned on all sides. This is not easy work and it is not for the beginners.” At the conclusion of each session, the patterns were checked for alignments and additional information concerning installation was available.

Scott Parks stated during his demonstration, “Installing some of the more difficult vinyl patterns requires skill. If you make a mistake, it can be costly. The industry desperately needs experienced installers who know how to flashcove vinyl.” He also demonstrated board replacement and guided the installers through each step to achieve customer satisfaction. “Installation of any type of flooring is an art of which you must be proud. Anybody can do it wrong, but we are here to help you learn the correct methods.”

The large group was divided into two sessions that rotated during the day. Jon Namba, Executive Director of CFI taught the “hands-on” Patterned Carpet Workshop. Scott Parks, CFI Master Installer and a member of the Armstrong Installation Training Network was the instructor for the sheet vinyl installation, coving and wood board replacement.

Sylvia Hanson, President; Linda Acosta, Vice-President; Mark Kellerhalls, Secretary and Aida Freed greeted the installers as they arrived early to participate. Each attendee was presented with the Floor Excellence 2007 Spring Training Resource Guide filled with hundreds of pages of installation information. They also received a commemorative Floor Excellence T-shirt sponsored by Mission Carpet Distributors, Virginia Hardwood, David Greenbaum, Tri West, Galleher.

Everyone had the opportunity to win a Crain Undercut Saw or a Seamer-Down Now tool by purchasing a ticket from Greg Trigiero, Director. The winners were Armando Esparza of The Picket Fence and Tom Bishop, CFI installer from The Kuske Company.

The Gold Sponsor was the Greenbaum Company; Silver Sponsor, the Tom Duffy Company and corporate sponsors were Diamond W Floor Covering, Galleher, Inc., JH Freed & Sons, Mission Carpet Distributors, Royalty Carpet Mills, United Freight Services, Victor Kemp and Virginia Hardwood Company.

Installers were very appreciative of the vast array of prizes donated by Ardex, Armstrong,

Better Tools, Crain Cutter Company, David Greenbaum Company, Gallaher, Mission Carpet Distributors, Orcon, Roberts, Seamer Down, Taylor Tools, Victor Kemp Company and Tri-West Distributors.

The members of the SDCFCA were enthusiastic about the number of installers, sales associates and manufacturers that attended the annual event. Comments overheard from the attendees, “As a salesperson, the more you know at the front end, the better the job will come out at the backend,” remarked Tauna Rodarte of JW Flooring Design Center. “This is a great opportunity for installers and we thank the flooring association and the manufacturers for supporting those of us who seek to be the best in our field,” explained

Joe Amituanai, CFI installer from the Kuske Company. Ralph Schlottman of JW Floor Covering/Commercial Division added, “I have been attending “Floor Excellence” since its inception and learn something new every year! Jim Walker continues to inspire me with his wit and knowledge. As always, Jon Namba did an amazing job communicating new and old ways of installing carpet and Scott Parks does a very thorough job. We appreciate each of you.”

Sylvia Hanson, SDCFCA President and Design Center Manager of Pacific Coast Communities summed up the event, “Another successful Floor Excellence seminar. The day provided a venue for attendees to advance their individual skill through classes that targeted specific topics. The focus was also professionalism with Jim Walker who reminded the attendees that appearance, proper communication and timeliness are key to a successful job and career. Jim emphasized that a better understanding of one’s “profession” means taking true ownership of each job. He stressed the importance of doing one’s very best and education must never stop. As I viewed the classrooms and spoke with individuals, it was clear they were absorbing the materials presented, challenged in the hands-on assignments and thoroughly enjoying the experience.”

Hanson continued, “The SDCFCA extends our appreciation and thanks to the extremely talented, professional instructors, Jim Walker, Jon Namba and Scott Parks of CFI. We also appreciate the distributors and manufacturers that support our program financially and through the donation of tools of the trade that are distributed to the installers at the end of the program. This team makes it all possible.”

The SDCFCA is dedicated to continuing improvement, education and promotion of the floor covering industry. Members include wholesale sales associates, floor covering dealers and contractors, retail sales dealers and associates and those who transport flooring products. They also support the local charities through golf tournaments, raffles, Bowl-A-Thon and dinner meetings to benefit Children’s Hospital of San Diego and the SDCFCA Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact the President, Sylvia Hanson at (888) 259.2960 x103 or Past President, Gary Bedrosian at the Kuske Company (760) 745.6869.

Print the Article