INSTALL Partners represent the top organizations in the floorcovering industry. Partners contribute to training and ensure that INSTALL members are the most highly trained and respected in the industry.
Contact us today for information on joining the INSTALL Alliance.
All mills and manufacturers in the floorcovering industry are invited to join, as well. You can access the full roster of INSTALL Alliance Partner manufacturers at the link below.
CFR: Working Together To Ensure Successful Flooring Installations
The objective of a team is to work together toward a common goal to achieve success. Merging the goals of all parties on a commercial flooring project to encourage as much collaboration as possible (even before Drawings and Specifications are produced), for the most ideal outcome possible.
The purpose of this latest edition of LGM & Associates’ Commercial Flooring Report is to help put together a template for success that can be used as a guideline for all new construction and renovated building projects. The template somewhat mirrors the old Carpet and Rug Institute “Areas of Responsibility” which offered guidelines to all parties involved in a carpet project from the manufacturer to the installer and what they were responsible for. The objective is to share this template and information with all the parties involved, the Architect, General Contractor, Facilities Director, and Flooring Contractor, and even encourage other trades to take a similar approach.
Read The Latest Issue Of The CFR Here
Lone Sage Contractors, LLC. Proudly Partners With Southwest Mountain States Carpenters Union
At Lone Sage, we are more than just a construction contracting company; we are a testament to resilience and determination. Founded by a group of disabled veterans, our journey began on the battlefield and has since transitioned to building strong foundations in the construction industry.
Our military background instilled in us values of integrity, discipline, and unparalleled work ethic. Today, we channel these virtues into every project we undertake, ensuring top-tier quality and unmatched dedication. By choosing our company, you’re not just opting for exceptional construction services; you’re supporting a team that has served, sacrificed, and continues to build a legacy of excellence.
We are a team of military and public service veterans who have come together to help build a better country. By providing construction services with military precision and utilizing our partnership with the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters Union, together we will build a stronger America.
Get To Know Lone Sage More Here
QEP And Roberts Making A Difference, One Tool At A Time
We have an industry-wide shortage of installers. How do we find the installers of tomorrow? How do we encourage quality training? The average age of the flooring installer workforce is 56 years old, where is the next generation?
We have all heard these statements and questions echoed over and over throughout the industry in recent years. The team at QEP Co., Inc. knew they needed to be part of the solution. They needed to do something to make a difference, but what? The immediate answers were simple; Partner up with the industry associations and ask them what they need to be more successful. Offer more support to them than just paying membership dues. Do more than sponsor a few things to get their logo seen.
And that is exactly what they did. The first step was to assign the official task of association liaison to Leslie Del Pozo, VP of Marketing Communications. But the task wasn’t in addition to her other Marketing tasks. They re-distributed her previous responsibilities so that she could truly concentrate on making the associations a priority. They knew that Leslie was the perfect fit for what needed to get done. She had been with QEP Co., Inc. for 25 years, she knew the QEP brand, she knew the ROBERTS brand, she knew the industry, she knew the associations, she knew the people.
Fast forward one year and the difference is clear. This past year has seen a huge change in how QEP supports the associations, specifically the ones that concentrate on training. Increased product donations are a big part of that support but it is also about building relationships with the individuals of the industry. When asked about her role, Leslie states, “This industry is made up of many layers of amazing people. Of course I want the leaders of the associations to know who I am and feel comfortable with asking for help. I also want to know who the trainers are and what I can do to help them be more successful in the field. But the most important people that I hear from are the installers themselves. They are the future and we need them to be successful. We need to all work together to make this happen.”
Not only has Leslie increased the amount of product donated to the training efforts, this past year Leslie has worked to change how returned products that have been slightly damaged or gently used are processed internally, opening up a direct channel to get them into the hands of local training organizations. This has resulted in being able to supply more than triple the amount of product to the field. FCEF Director of Operations, Kaye Whitener recently said, “Thanks to the exceptional support from QEP Roberts, FCEF has successfully supplied materials and tools to support various college programs offering basic floor covering installation program. The forthcoming implementation of the program in additional college programs next year is made achievable through the generosity of industry partners like QEP Roberts, who are dedicated to introducing the next generation to the flooring industry.”
Leslie doesn’t want to just ensure that the training facilities have product, she also wants to make sure that the veteran installers are given the respect and recognition they deserve. Just like being a good parent, her goal is to simply show up and be there for the installers. She has championed supporting all the installers that have entered the TISE Installer of the Year Competition by traveling to every competition to cheer them on and making sure each one received Roberts’ tools and swag for their efforts. She helped to facilitate a partnership with Floor Trends & Installation Magazine Installation Awards (formerly FCI Magazine) by giving generous QEP and Roberts product prize packages to the winners.
From all the big training organizations to the smaller second chance training programs, Leslie is on a mission to literally put a QEP or Roberts tools in everyone’s hand. She stated, “Obviously we want to support all of the training efforts that exist today, but in order to make a difference, we had to pick just a few to start with in order to be successful in our goal…and we will continue to grow our efforts in order to support the future of our industry.”
QEP endorses INSTALL:
“We fully support the INSTALL commitment to raising the installation standards in the floor covering industry. This program fosters craftsmen who take their responsibility seriously, have pride in their work, and strive for excellence in quality installations.”