INSTALL Profile: Mike Maguire

Written by INSTALL / May 24, 2018

Some of us are born with a higher calling in life. Whether it’s giving back to the industry by becoming an instructor, volunteering our skills to non profit organizations, or running for public office we all have the potential to make a positive change in the flooring community. Mike Maguire is taking this to a new extreme through a life-changing opportunity that will take him to Africa for two years.

A union carpenter for 45 years (he first joined Local 141 in 1973), Maguire spent 14 years as a residential carpenter and 25 years as an instructor at the Carpenter Training Center in Chicago, IL. He was also heavily involved with curriculum development at the International Training Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Now retired, Maguire is about to set sail aboard “Africa Mercy,” the largest floating hospital outside of the federal government. Africa Mercy is part of the Mercy Ships fleet, a non-profit, non-denominational Christian organization that focuses on providing medical services to the poorest nations on earth.

Maguire will serve as the ship’s carpenter, helping to maintain multiple facilities and serving as the “wood doctor” during his two-year embarkment.

“When I retired six years ago there was plenty of stuff to do in my life,” said Maguire. “While working on my home and rental property were great, I eventually got caught up on everything,” he added. “Since 66 is the new 40 I have plenty of life left, and thanks to our industry’s retirement and pension benefits, I am able to contribute to society and give back what I have been given.”

Maguire knew about Mercy Ships for several years and decided to get online and see if there were any volunteer opportunities. “At the top of the organization’s website was a posting for the ship’s carpenter. Right next to it there was an urgent sign. To me, this was a literal sign of what I was meant to do.”

Today Maguire is making final preparations for his trip. He leaves in June and will return home in the summer of 2020. His ship will take him to ports of call through the West Coast of Africa, where it will serve communities where surgical and medical facilities are virtually non-existent. “Every step is new, and God’s grace will bring me through this incredible opportunity,” he said. “Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers during this important mission.

Maguire’s story demonstrates the incredible opportunities that this industry has in store for its members. We produce real, practical skills and our benefits allow many of our members to take early retirement compared to other trades. The important lesson from Mike Maguire is to find a way to give these skills back to our communities and the world.

Explore More News from INSTALL

Moisture Testing and Control Advances Bring Need for New Training

Read Article

What INSTALL Warranty Contractor Designation Means

Read Article

Qualified Concrete Polishing Bridging Art, Science and Expertise

Read Article

Hardwood Floors Gain Bolder Design, Technical Advancements

Read Article

INSTALL Specification Resource for Floorcovering Installations

Read Article

Infection Prevention: Your Mission, Our Expertise

Read Article

INSTALL Connects the Best in the Flooring Industry

Read Article

Flooring Olympics Celebrates Skills & Positive Industry Outlook

Read Article

Subfloor Preparation Certification: What Installers Need to Know

Read Article

Alternative Career Pathways & Succession for Flooring Installers

Read Article

Avoid Costly Missteps in Subfloor Prep, Three Factors to Assess

Read Article

With Certification, the Floor is Yours

Read Article

How Education Can Help Recruit the Next Generation of Installers

Read Article

Engaging the Next Generation of Floorcovering Installers

Read Article

INSTALL Sponsors New Accredited Webinar With Architectural Record

Read Article

Partner News: December 2023

Read Article

How to Overcome the Challenges of Retaining Flooring Installers

Read Article

Building a Successful Business Through Effective Communication

Read Article

INSTALL Announces 2023 Drywall & Flooring Olympics Winners

Read Article

Partner News: October 2023

Read Article

INSTALL Joins Floor Trends Magazine's TalkFloor Podcast

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2023

Read Article

Healthcare Certifications Are More Important Than Ever

Read Article

INSTALL Introduces New Executive Director David Gross

Read Article

The Retirement of INSTALL Executive Director John T. McGrath, Jr.

Read Article

How Installers Help Healthcare Facilities Prevent Costly Rework

Read Article

Why Proper Floor Covering Installation Training Is Vital

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: December 2022

Read Article

Top-Notch Floor Covering Training Adds Long-Term Value

Read Article

Tips to Solve Common LVT & LVP Installation Issues

Read Article

Proper Training Can Help Avoid Safety Risks for Occupants

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: August 2022

Read Article

New Resilient Flooring And Carpet Certification Standards

Read Article

INSTALL Announces New Alliance Partners

Read Article

INSTALL's Course Offerings Expand With Hardwood Flooring Training

Read Article

Training and Trust Help Flooring Installers Grow in New Markets

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2022

Read Article

INSTALL Expands Apprenticeship Program to Support Industry Growth

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2022

Read Article

Importance of Specifying UBC-ICRA Protocols in a Covid-19 World

Read Article

Understanding Flooring Moisture Mitigation

Read Article

Keeping INSTALL Inclusive

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: December 2021

Read Article

INSTALL and Teknoflor Join Efforts to Ensure Quality Installation

Read Article

M. Frank Higgins Introduced as Latest INSTALL Warranty Contractor

Read Article

INSTALL & Tarkett Partnership to Elevate Installation Standards

Read Article

INSTALL and H2H Help Veterans Transition to Civilian Life

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: November 2021

Read Article

XL North Interview With INSTALL's John T. McGrath, Jr.

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2021

Read Article

How to Keep the Jobsite Safe amid COVID-19

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2021

Read Article

Smith Flooring Inc. Selected as First Stop on Presidential Tour

Read Article

INSTALL & FCICA Work to Elevate Flooring Installation Standards

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2021

Read Article

The Formula to Protecting Occupied Healthcare Facilities

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: December 2020

Read Article

INSTALL Inducts Five New Members to its Floorcovering Alliance

Read Article

Not a Flooring Fad: Polished Concrete & Pourable Wear Toppings

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: October 2020

Read Article

Five Best Practices for Specifying Flooring in a COVID-19 World

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2020

Read Article

Polished Concrete Sets Foundation in Flooring

Read Article

Ensuring Employee Safety on the Jobsite During COVID-19

Read Article

M. Frank Higgins & Co., Inc. Hosts ICRA Training Program

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2020

Read Article

Women Flooring Installers Help Solve the Labor Crisis

Read Article

Three Reasons to Hire Certified Floorcovering Installers

Read Article

Addressing the Deadly Threat of Silica

Read Article

INSTALL Welcomes New Members to Expansive Floorcovering Network

Read Article

Watch: Installers Lay Groundwork for Polished Concrete Flooring

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2020

Read Article

The Impact of Technology on the Flooring Installation Industry

Read Article

INSTALL to Present at World of Concrete 2020 and DOMOTEX USA 2020

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: November 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Showcases ICRA Standards at 2019 APIC Expo

Read Article

Innovations that are Changing the Floorcovering Industry

Read Article

Image Flooring Partners with INSTALL to Expand

Read Article

INSTALL Continues Support for Helmets to Hardhats Partnership

Read Article

Polish Your Skills: The Latest in Concrete Polishing

Read Article

How to Increase Professionalism in Installation

Read Article

Four Ways to Become More Efficient on the Jobsite

Read Article

INSTALL Members Donate Time and Skills for Charity

Read Article

Putting Concrete Polishing Education Front and Center

Read Article

Meeting Infection Control Protocols in Healthcare Designs

Read Article

UBC Announces Leadership Changes, Reaffirms Commitment to INSTALL

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2019

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: July 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Continues Increasing Availability of Formal Training

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2019

Read Article

Floorcovering Industry Heightens Response to Skilled Labor Crisis

Read Article

Expansion Program Helps Image Flooring Grow throughout Midwest

Read Article

INSTALL Expands Partnership with Department of Veterans Affairs

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: May 2019

Read Article

ARDEX Americas supports INSTALL with Polished Toppings Training

Read Article

INSTALL Puts Finishing Touches on Concrete Polishing Curriculum

Read Article

Floorcovering's Commitment to Saving Lives in Healthcare

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: April 2019

Read Article

The Rise of Concrete Polishing

Read Article

INSTALL to Present New ICRA CEU at 2019 AEC BuildTech Conference

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: March 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Introduces New Warranty Contractor and Alliance Partners

Read Article

Ambassador Floor Lends Efforts to Combat the Skilled Labor Crisis

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2019

Read Article

Four Ways to Become a Better Installer

Read Article

Reviving the Skilled Labor Pipeline in the Floorcovering Industry

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: January 2019

Read Article

Engaging in a "People First" Model for Employee Retention

Read Article

2018 INSTALL Milestones: Flooring Trade Update

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: October 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Supports Veterans through Career Placement Program

Read Article

Earn CEU credits with INSTALL's new curriculum

Read Article

Don’t fear the future of the floor covering industry

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Penny Czarra

Read Article

INSTALL Conference brings collaboration to meet industry demands

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Frank Koch

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Expansion Initiative Steadily Progresses

Read Article

INSTALL & Roppe Partner at NeoCon 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Mike Maguire

Read Article

Announcing new Alliance Partners and INSTALL Warranty Contractors

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Del Church

Read Article

New Texas Training Center celebrates grand opening

Read Article

Sisters in the Brotherhood Participate in New INSTALL Training

Read Article

Tarkett & INSTALL partner to create integrated education program

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Andy Bowman

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: February 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Richard Schmidt

Read Article

Reduce Maintenance Costs with Polished Concrete Flooring

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: January 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: James Colombo

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: December 2017

Read Article

Master Craft Flooring Wins 2017 FCI Installation Award

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: November 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Opens Enrollment for CIM Program Scholarship

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Michael Bonacci

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Adam Williams

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: October 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Sees Continued Growth in Southern U.S.

Read Article

INSTALL Announces Canadian NAC Winner

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Kelly Bakke

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: September 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Jeff Johnson

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: August 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Combats Labor Shortage through Industry Partnerships

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: David Altman

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Jeff Moore

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: June 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Dan Solomon

Read Article

INSTALL & Partners to Host ICRA Training

Read Article

INSTALL & Roppe Partner at NeoCon 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: May 2017

Read Article

INSTALL & H2H Partnership Reaches First Year Milestone

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Ron Zimmerman

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: April 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Jim Wilkinson

Read Article

Laticrete Joins Endorsement of Substrate Prep Certification

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: March 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Included in Master Spec, Provides VA with Peace of Mind

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Heather Rice

Read Article

Why Moisture Testing is a Step that Can’t be Ignored

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: February 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Insights: Resilients

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Tom Sheridan

Read Article

Industry Leaders Endorse the INSTALL Substrate Prep Certification

Read Article

Flooring System Success: Get it Right from the Ground Up

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: January 2017

Read Article

INSTALL's Certified Installation Manager Scholarship Winner

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Tom Lutz

Read Article

INSTALL Takes on Installation’s Challenges

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: December 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Brian Redshaw

Read Article

INSTALL & H2H Bring Veterans to the Flooring Industry

Read Article

INSTALL Insights: Selecting the Right Contractor

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Garrett Maki

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: October 2016

Read Article

Canadian National Apprenticeship Contest

Read Article

INSTALL Launches Substrate Certification Program

Read Article

INSTALL combats skilled labor crisis with training

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Kirk Kazienko

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: September 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Laura Graham-Sawchyn

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: August 2016

Read Article

UBC Southern Council Collective Bargaining Agreement

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Bryan Kear

Read Article

This Month at INSTALL: July 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2016

Read Article

Consolidated Carpet Supports St. Francis Pantries & Shelters

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Barb Kidwell

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: June 2016

Read Article

VA Taps INSTALL for Master Construction Specification

Read Article

INSTALL Recap: NeoCon 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Eric Kastner

Read Article

INSTALL Partners with BHI for Haiti Build

Read Article

INSTALL Launches Surface Prep Certification

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: May 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Regional Council News: April 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: David Gross

Read Article

2016 Starnet Design Awards

Read Article

INSTALL Expands Training in Central South Market

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: April 2016

Read Article

Substrate and Subfloor Installations for High-Quality Flooring

Read Article

VIDEO: The INSTALL Expansion Partnership Program

Read Article

VIDEO: The INSTALL Advantage

Read Article