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Iowa Flooring Installers Donate Time to New Moving Veterans Forward Non-Profit Location

Casey Peterson spreading XL brands Gold stick carpet glue — Casey Peterson spreading XL Brands GoldStix carpet glue. Photo: John Steier.

Casey Peterson and Tyler Garmen spreading adhesive as Kyle Koenecke supervises — Casey Peterson and Tyler Garmen spread adhesive in the soon-to-be workout room as Kyle Koenecke supervises from what will be the kitchenette area. Photo: John Steier.

Tyler Garmen and John Steier patching cracks with Ardex feather finish — Tyler Garmen and John Steier patching cracks with Ardex Feather Finish. Photo: John Steier.

Kyle Koenecke trimming in a wall. Photo: John Steier.

Tyler Garmen Craig Hjelmeland John Steier Casey Peterson and Kyle Koenecke — Tyler Garmen cuts carpet while the rest of the crew supervises: (Left to right) Craig Hjelmeland, John Steier, Casey Peterson and Kyle Koenecke. Photo: John Steier.

Local flooring installers from different businesses came together to volunteer their time and talent to install new matting throughout the new Moving Veterans Forward non-profit location in Algona, Iowa on February 23, 2024. Area flooring installers Tyler Garmen, Kyle Koenecke, Casey Petersen, Craig Hjelmeland and John Steier worked together to help get the new location closer to the finish line so it can begin assisting military veterans in need within the community.

Moving Veterans Forward located in North Central Iowa relies on monetary donations as well as furniture and household items to help veterans get established in their new homes. Their goal is to provide all veterans the boost they need to become self-sufficient. John Emswiler, one of the founding members of Moving Veterans Forward North Central Iowa, said that the new location will be able to provide more service and better opportunities for veterans in the area.

The spaces receiving the new matting are going to be more of a commons area with a workout room and kitchenette space. "Local veterans will be able to use these areas when needed," Emswiler said.

The matting was donated by Matting By Design, a local custom matting business with ties to retail and commercial locations throughout the United States, specializing in custom matting designs.

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John Steier, owner, Steier Flooring LLC, Algona, Iowa, entered flooring in 2004 and was instantly addicted to the craft of floor covering installation. He installs carpet, sheet vinyl, LVP/LVT, laminate, hardwood and tile. In 2020, Steier opened a retail location servicing his hometown. He is CFI#14097 with certifications in carpet, laminate, hardwood and resilient residential. He is eager to pass installation knowledge on to anyone willing to listen.

Beth Miller began her journalistic journey in 2005 while still working as a mechanic in her dad’s garage. She has written about everything from artists to WWII veterans and in 2010 stepped into the healthcare sector where she created digital content for 11 years. She, then, received her master’s degree in English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 2017, she took the leap into the flooring industry. Here, she has discovered a place where she can apply both her technical and journalistic abilities.