Written by INSTALL / September 8, 2016
Shortly after joining USG in 2012, Kirk Kazienko was introduced to John McGrath at an industry trade show. At the time, John was on the cusp of developing new training and certification programs for floor preparation. USG was at the same time developing these products and putting greater emphasis on underlayment training, making it an ideal opportunity to get in front of an influential trade group and develop relationships with floor installers, distributors and others who would ultimately be using the brand and its products.
Since that first meeting, Kazienko has developed a strong relationship with both McGrath and INSTALL collaborating on the importance of training and certification. INSTALL and Kazienko are working together to bring industry experts, architects and contractors together for AIA-approved CEU sessions on moisture mitigation and acoustical floors, round table discussions and a USG performance flooring portfolio review in the recent USG Symposium events.
“The greatest thing about INSTALL and working with GCs, architects, installers, distributors and manufacturers is that everyone is becoming increasingly proactive, rather than reactionary. Instead of fixing problems, we are moving forward as an industry to prevent problems from happening in the first place.”
Working with distributors and manufacturers has given him a unique vantage point on understanding how all the puzzle pieces fit together. “I am proud to be a liaison for USG to INSTALL. Being on the new certification development team is an honor. As we come up with more testing and procedures, we are moving the needle forward and creating a better future for our industry.”