The second regional installation competition in St. Louis, Missouri was held at the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) training facility where six flooring installers competed in either the wood or carpet category for a chance at the National Installer of the Year title which will take place during The International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas. With only two days to complete their install, each competitor worked diligently to finish their assigned category's work order.
"For those of you who don't know, these guys are judged on every component, every aspect, everything that they do from start to finish—from the written test to the hands on—evaluated on every process," said Robert Varden, former executive director, CFI. "Sometimes even health and safety issues can fall into that scoring."
The carpet category competitors were Kevin Keefe with QEP in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Daniel Guldner with Pruitt Flooring in Wichita, Kansas; and Allen (Roy) Lewis with Eagle Interiors in Phenix City, Alabama.
The wood category competitors were Joseph (Joe) Wolfe with Southern Oaks Flooring in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; William Hensley with Totta Hardwood Flooring in Kansas City, Missouri; and Wayne Brooks with Just Around the Corner in Bonne Terre, Missouri.
According to Varden, the scoring was close for the carpet category with only one point difference between first and second place. Kevin Keefe with QEP out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin took home the carpet category win.
The wood category was also close on the scoring. William Hensley with Totta Hardwood Flooring in Kansas City, Missouri won the wood category.
They will travel to Las Vegas in February 2023 to compete in the TISE Regional Finalist Competition alongside the other regional winners.
Mohawk is the exclusive hardwood sponsor. In addition to providing hardwood, they also provided soft surface flooring and Performance Accessories for all competitions. Taylor Adhesives is the exclusive adhesives competition sponsor, and QEP/Roberts Consolidated Industries, Inc. is the exclusive tool sponsor.
The third regional competition will be held in San Leandro, California at the IUPAT training facility on October 27-28.
To register for the San Leandro competition, click here.
