TalkFloor Podcasts

Are flooring dealers making costly AI mistakes? AI expert Maksim Nazarchuk reveals the three biggest concerns holding back the industry, how to protect customer data without killing innovation, and why most AI implementations fail before they start.

In this special National Small Business Week episode, Independent Carpet One Co-Owner Cathy Buchanan and Synchrony's Vince Lowe discuss retail challenges in today's economy, successful adaptation strategies, and how financial partnerships are helping flooring retailers boost profitability.

Scott Humphrey, CEO, WFCA, and Beth Brown Sorrell, executive director of FCITS, WFCA, reveal how the WFCA's acquisition of FCITS' specialized inspection training will address critical knowledge gaps while leveraging the association's extensive reach to elevate professional standards across the flooring sector. 

In this exclusive interview, Mohawk's Charles DiSano reveals how North Carolina manufacturing helps power the company's American made growth strategy. Discover why retailers are turning to Mohawk's tariff-free flooring solutions in PureTech, RevWood and Pergo Elements that deliver confidence in an uncertain market.

HMTX combines Metroflor and Teknoflor under its new Contract and Trade Business Unit. In this exclusive interview, Russ Rogg reveals the strategy behind the consolidation, discusses a new partnership with Spartan Surfaces, and shares insights on the future of resilient flooring in today's challenging market.

In response to the trade labor shortage, The Carpet Guys have launched Michigan's first state-licensed installer training center, offering a unique pathway to a promising career in flooring installation for those seeking an alternative to traditional four-year degrees. 

Vives, a family-owned Spanish tile company since 1957, brings European design trends to the North American market. From Cevisama 2025, Jose Ruiz-Roscigno discusses sustainable manufacturing practices, 2025 tile trends, and educating architects and contractors on proper installation techniques. 

We are celebrating Women in Construction week. It is a week set aside each year to celebrate and promote the role of women in the construction industry. Paula Resa, assistant director, Southwest Mountain States Carpenters, and Sandra Rodriguez, director, Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB), have very different points of entry to the skilled trades, but their stories align in that they are women who have overcome hardships to find a career path within the trade unions they represent. Here, they talk more in depth on the many ways the Sisters in the Brotherhood program offers support to current and future tradeswomen.

From TISE 2025, join Nate Bowen (Michigan Statewide Carpenters & Millwrights Training Programs) and Pat Noonan (Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council) as they explore professional flooring installation. Learn how INSTALL's union programs combine advanced training with comprehensive benefits to create sustainable, rewarding careers in floor installation.

In a strategic move to address the flooring industry's installation crisis, the World Floor Covering Association announces a groundbreaking partnership with CTEF for entry-level ceramic training, while revealing plans to expand trade school programs to 100 locations. Leaders also propose an innovative penny-per-square-foot program that could revolutionize industry funding.

Get ready for an eye-opening look at what's really driving tile and stone purchases today. Join BNP Media co-CEO Mitch Henderson as he reveals exclusive research on consumer behavior, contractor selection, and market trends that are reshaping the industry. Fresh insights from The International Surfaces Event you won't want to miss.

From the Shaw Flooring Network Convention in Orlando, Florida, Shaw Industries EVP of Residential Business Benjamin Liebert shares candid insights on transforming the flooring purchase journey, building stronger brands, and why the industry's future looks bright despite current challenges.

With existing home sales at a 30-year low, Jeff Meadows, president of residential sales at Mohawk, shares how the company is expanding domestic production, growing its luxury portfolio, and why builder partnerships are becoming increasingly crucial. 

James Pope, a graduate of the basic flooring installation program implemented by the Floor Covering Education Foundation and its education and training partners, attended Great Falls College in Montana where he completed the 10-week course as of November 14, 2024. At only 18, he is already on his way to a successful career in flooring installation. Here, he shares his experience in the program, the support he received along the way and his thoughts on his generation's perception of the trades.

In collaboration with INSTALL, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters' Military Veterans Program provides free, comprehensive training to service members transitioning to civilian life. Floor installation is one of the options. In this episode, we speak with Mark Benacquisto, executive director of Millwright Pile Driver Labor Management, who spearheaded the program's development, and INSTALL Executive Director David Gross.

Cyncly is acquiring Broadlume. Learn more about what it means for flooring retailers as we speak with Mark Lukianchuk, the general manager for Cyncly Flooring, Todd Saunders, CEO of Broadlume, and Carole Cross, managing director of mobile marketing, a Cyncly company.

Todd Skidmore, senior director of e-commerce at Mohawk, joins us to discuss Mohawk's new digital health assessment program, designed to help stores optimize their websites, drive traffic, and convert online browsers into showroom buyers.

In December, Mohawk is hosting its Edge Summit 2025 in Denver, Colorado, for its Edge-aligned dealers. One of the advantages of participating in the Edge program is the finance options available through Mohawk's partnership with Synchrony. Doug Ensley, Mohawk's senior director of residential market development, details the partnership, how it benefits the Edge dealers, and how Synchrony's trend reports help Mohawk keep its Edge program evolving to meet the needs of its dealers—even in shaky economic times.

Bill Blackstock, president and CEO of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, projects a rebound in resilient flooring starting mid-2025. Listen in as he shares an update on RFCI's fall meeting, his outlook for single-family and multifamily housing, and the commercial flooring sectors. 

Synchrony released a Future of Retail report that revealed data about consumers' shopping expectations for the future. Vince Lowe, senior VP and general manager home specialty and flooring with Synchrony, discusses the highlights and reveals how technology is shaping the shopping experience over the next several years. 

On location at the second-annual joint 2024 CFI FCICA Convention in Orlando, Florida, leadership from the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA)—the parent organization for the Certified Flooring Installers (CFI)—and the Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (FCICA) provide an update on membership, training and what installers have to look forward to in 2025. 

Reuben Potter, owner of Floors By Southern Boys in Manchester, Tennessee, is grabbing potential customers' attention, not through digital ad placement or social media boosted posts, but on billboards, banners, his work van and sponsoring the local baseball team and local parade. He is also promoting himself through his professionalism. Listen as we discuss some of the unique methods Reuben is using to get people's attention and why self-promotion is important for the independent flooring installer. 

Southwind Building Products celebrates its 30th anniversary during a transformative period marked by significant investments and strategic shifts. We recently spoke with Drew Hash, president and CEO of Southwind, to learn more about the company's recent wins and what the future looks like as its owner, F9 Investments, looks for new partnerships.

Leaders at the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) offer an update on the organization's progress in increasing awareness and recruiting people to flooring installation, how they are connecting individuals to quality flooring installation in the industry, and how they are providing scholarships for training. 

Bob Peoples, executive director of Carpet America Recovery Effort, discusses the complexities of carpet recycling, technological advancements and California's AB 863 bill, which could significantly impact the flooring industry and carpet recycling efforts.

The International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI) recently acquired the Natural Fiber Installers Certification (NFIC), a specialized training and certification organization focused on natural fiber flooring products. NFIC Founder PJ Arthur and Steve Abernathy, COO of the World Floor Covering Association, share how the acquisition will make certification more accessible to installers and promote the craftsmanship of natural fiber installations. 

David Winkler, regional director of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 5, discusses the importance of training, provides insight into the inner workings and benefits of IUPAT, and dispels some common misconceptions about trade unions.  

Three leading flooring distribution companies—The Belknap White Group, JJ Haines & Company, and Swiff-Train Company—recently merged to form a new brand, Ultimate Customer Experience (UCX). UCX CEO Ray Mancini discusses the merger, his outlook for 2025, and the future of distribution.

Florim USA is the largest single-site porcelain tile manufacturer in the United States. Don Haynes, environmental health and safety and sustainability manager, discusses Florim USA's efforts towards carbon neutrality and recent investments in energy efficiency and green practices. 

Despite an industry-wide residential slowdown, MSI continues to expand its business through innovation, domestic manufacturing and supply, and the addition of distribution centers. Raj Shah, co-CEO of MSI, shares his outlook on rigid core flooring and higher-end products like engineered hardwood and quartz countertops.

Get an inside look at the art of flooring design through the eyes of Audra Keiber, Mohawk's director of design & development. In this episode, Keiber gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Mohawk Design Summit, bringing retailers and designers together to forecast 2025 and 2026 trends and product ideation. 

On June 19, 2024, i4F announced that it acquired the rights to the SPC trademark, lifting all current U.S. Customs actions related to SPC flooring. Here, i4F Chief IP Officer Mattie de Koning explains what this means for the flooring industry.

David Gross, executive director, INSTALL, highlights the Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB)—a women's union organization within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. He provides an update on how the unions have evolved over time and talks in depth about the support and resources the SIB offers.

Leslie Del Pozo, vice president of marketing content & communications, QEP/Roberts has been supporting the installation community in a variety of ways for several years now, including sponsoring our Installation Awards for the second year in a row. Here, we dive more into her flooring journey, what supporting the installation community means to her and the importance of just showing up.

Belknap White's Dave Godlewski, vice president ceramic, and Jane Twombly, director of specification, provided a more in-depth look at the company which is one of the largest flooring distributors in the country, discuss what's coming for 2024, the opportunities they see on the horizon and the trends they are following this year.

From Coverings 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia, Crosby Hall, Chief Administrative Officer of Louisville Tile Distributors, discusses her team's presence at the event, the latest trends in tile design, and the company's recent rebranding. 

Charity Adeoti is a student at Hawkeye Community College Cedar Falls campus where she is wrapping up the 10-week FCEF installation program. Charity brings several years of flooring installation experience to the table and has big plans following the completion of her education. Here, she talks more in depth about her flooring journey and her plans to help bring in the next generation of flooring installers.

Roland Thompson, owner, Thompson Flooring & Installation and CFI member, was recently appointed to CFI Board Chair to help revamp the association's chapter program. Here, he talks about his new position and CFI's plans to grow the program.

Beyond Balance, a conference for working women and those who support them, takes place March 5, 2024, in Dalton, Georgia. Conference planner Delyn Ellis, director of claims at Shaw Industries, tells us about the event and why women in flooring should plan to attend, virtually or in person.

At The International Surface Event (TISE) 2024, Benjamin Walker, COO, Go Carrera, shares his journey in the flooring industry and ultimately how he landed at Go Carrera. Here, we discuss the various initiatives Go Carrera has recently implemented, focusing on their Jump Start program that helps new flooring installers in the field find employment.

Roland Thompson, owner, Thompson Flooring & Installation, and president of the Del Marva, Maryland CFI chapter, sat down with FLOOR Trends & Installation Managing Editor, Beth Miller, during the TISE 2024 show to discuss CFI's plans to revamp its chapter program, plans for implementation and his appointment to Board Chair. Listen as Thompson talks about the TISE National Installer of the Year Competition and how he feels about his newly appointed position. 

Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, based in Suwanee, Georgia, recently transformed into an employee-owned company. Donny Phillips and Frank Winter recently shared insights with FLOOR Trends & Installation about why they created employee stock ownership plan and what it means for the future of their business. 

David Gross, executive director, INSTALL, shares his experience, how he came to land in a union organization and provides next steps for flooring installers who are interested in moving into another role within the flooring industry.This editorial podcast is brought to you by:

Bona's Matt Casey, director of professional marketing and the Bona Certified Craftsman Program, has been with the company for nearly two decades. During that time, he has witnessed a multitude of contractor challenges as well as the evolution of new product solutions. He details the current state of sustainability in the wood products industry, offering a few tips on how to work smarter not harder.This editorial podcast is brought to you by:

Architect Scott Faucheux is an expert at bringing magic to retail environments. Having worked on concepts for Urban Outfitters and Anthropology, Faucheux is now creative director at TPG Architects. Learn what he has to say about the role flooring plays in the design of retail spaces. This editorial podcast is brought to you by:

In recognition of Interface's 50th anniversary, Chip DeGrace, director of design purpose, reflects upon the history of carpet tile and Interface's accomplishments to date, and he looks towards the future of flooring design. 

Recently, The Home Depot announced it had expanded its Path to Pro program to include both English and Spanish. Jenna Arca, director of workforce development, fills us in on the Path to Pro program and what this expansion means for the current and future labor pool.

At the recent grand opening, Luiz Brito, CEO, Portobello America, talked about the new U.S. facility and its impact on the local economy, how they moved forward during the pandemic, and what's in store for 2024. 

"The flooring industry saved my life," said Dottie Bonn, owner, A Girl's Flooring Company. Bonn, a tile-setter by trade, has been installing all types of flooring for 22 years. Listen as Bonn details her rough start into flooring installation, how she overcame obstacles, and how she is helping other women do the same. 

Mike Kelly, account manager with Synergy Flooring and a FCICA Certified Installation Manager, led a session titled Planning the Flooring Job for Success at the recent CFI/FCICA convention where he presented best practices for planning a flooring installation project, including construction plans and scope of work to project scheduling and closeout.

Ralph Grogan fills us in on his new role as commercial president for the Meridian Adhesives Group Flooring Division, which includes Taylor Adhesives, and shares what he anticipates for the adhesives and the commercial flooring markets in 2024.