May 6, 2010—Michael Johnson, an architect and professor at Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, and Kemp Harr discuss his design of the hospitality pavilion for the Italian Ceramic Trade Association and his view of some of the world's most talented architects.
May 5, 2010—Dr. Svend Hovmand, former President of Crossvile Tile and this year's Tile Person of the Year, talks with Kemp Harr about his vision 25 years ago to open a porcelain tile plant in rural Tennessee. Listen to the interview to hear more about Svend's background and both the challenges the tile industry faces and the accomplishments it has achieved.
May 4, 2010—Massimo Barbari, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Florida Tile, and Kemp Harr discuss the company's new re-imaging efforts, recent manufacturing investments and new products introduced at Coverings 2010. Listen to the interview to hear more details and to hear what Florida Tile's distributors think about the business outlook for 2010.
May 3, 2010—Hector Narvaez, VP of Sales and Marketing for Marazzi USA, and Kemp Harr discuss Marazzi's recent investments in ink-jet technology and other enhancements in its Florence, Alabama plant. Listen to the interview to hear more about Marazzi's latest news from Coverings 210 in Orlando.
April 30, 2010—Tony Nixon, Legacy Floors, and Kemp Harr discuss this Ohio based flooring contractor's rapid growth in the polished concrete business. Listen to the interview to hear how Legacy Floors (a Starnet Worldwide Flooring member), got into the polished concrete business and expanded it with national retail accounts like West Marine and The Limited.
April 29, 2010—Donato Grosser, of D. Grosser & Associates, and Kemp Harr discuss the overall decline of the tile market in the U.S. and how that has affected imported products from Italy. Listen to the interview to hear more details around the Italian Tile Association's strategy and Donato's outlook for the future.
April 28, 2010—Randy Gablehouse, the long-time head of commercial sales for Armstrong World Industries, and Kemp Harr, discuss the hightlights of Gablehouse's 35-year career with Armstrong. He's unusual in the industry in that he spent his entire career with one company. Over the years he's worked in a variety of roles. Gablehouse retired in March.
April 27, 2010—Jeanne Matson, President and CEO of Starnet Worldwide Flooring, and Kemp Harr discuss the highlights and the health of the membership from Starnet's annual meeting held this weekend at Marco Island, Florida. Listen to the interview to hear about Starnet's new initiatives and the tone and outlook for business in 2010.
April 26, 2010—Kermit Baker, Chief Economist with the American Institute of Architecture, and Kemp Harr discuss the AIA billing index for March which is improving but still below 50, indicating a continued decline in billings. Listen to the interview to hear more about the different vertical sectors and kermit's overall view of the economy.
April 23, 2010—Jim Dion, an expert in consumer buying habits at retail, and Kemp Harr discuss Jim's upcoming seminar next week at Coverings in Orlando titled "Attracting the Consumer in 2010." Listen to the interview to hear highlights about Jim's talk and to hear more about where the consumer is mentally when it comes to retail buying.