The first of four TISE Regionals Competitions took place on July 21-22 at L. Fisherman Distributors at their Beltsville, Maryland location. Nine flooring installers competed in either the LVP 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. 


TISE Northeast Regional Comp_Maryland_9 competitors.jpgThere were six competitors in the carpet category and three in the LVT category. Photo: TISE. 

 

"On the LVT side where I was one of the judges, it was very hard to pick just one of them," said Roland Thompson, owner, Thompson Flooring & Installation. "They were neck and neck all day long. It came down to measuring every little thing to pick the winner."



TISE Northeast Regional Comp_Maryland_LVT competitors.jpgLVT competitors. Photos: TISE.

 

The LVT category competitors were Raul Aguero with Speedy Floors in New York, New York; Edward M. Kinzer with Kinzer's Floors in Greencastle, Pennsylvania; and William David Wilkes with Room Flippers LLC in Salisbury, Maryland. 


TISE Northeast Regional Comp_Maryland_carpet competitors.jpgCarpet competitors. Photos: TISE.

 

The carpet category competitors were Thomas J. Crandley, Jr. with Floorscapes by Thomas in Villas, New Jersey; James Ghanim with JRZ Carpet & Flooring in Flemington, New Jersey; George E. Johnson, III with G-3 Carpet Service in Alexandria, Virginia; Jose Juarez with Global Flooring in Hickory, North Carolina; Joel Justice with Room Flippers LLC in Millsboro, Delaware; and Kenneth Pierson, Jr. with Carpet Castle Inc. in Toms River, New Jersey.

According to Thompson, it was also another close call in the carpet category. James Ghanim of JRZ Carpet & Flooring in Flemington, New Jersey won the carpet category.

Edward M. Kinzer with Kinzer's Floors in Greencastle, Pennsylvania took home the win in the LVT category. James Ghanim of JRZ Carpet & Flooring in Flemington, New Jersey won the carpet category.

QEP/Roberts Consolidated Industries, Inc. sponsored the event.

They will travel to Las Vegas in January 2024 to compete in the TISE Regional Finalist Competition alongside other regional winners.

The second regional competition will be held in Hayward, California at the Diamond W facility on August 11-12. To register, click here.

For more recent TISE Regional Competition news, click here.