Meet the Columnists
|
|
Christopher Capobianco is a fourth generation floor covering specialist with over 26 years in the flooring business. His background includes work as a retailer, architectural sales representative, technical support manager, writer, educator and activist. He is active in a number of industry volunteer organizations, including ASTM Committee F.06 on Resilient Flooring, the Long Island Floor Covering Association, FCICA and IICRC. He works in his family's retail flooring business, Fred's Carpet of East Northport, Long Island, and has his own consulting business, Flooring Answers. You can reach him at cappy59@optonline.net. |
 |
David M Gobis CTC CSI, a third generation tile setter, is the executive director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. He has been in the trade for over 30 years and owned a successful contracting business for many years prior to his current position. Gobis is an author of many trade-related articles and a frequent speaker at industry events. He is a member of the Construction Specification Institute, National Tile Contractors Technical Committee, and a voting member of the American National Standards for Ceramic Tile Installation and Setting Materials (ANSI A108/118) and Tile Council of America Installation Handbook committees. He can be reached at (864) 222-2131 or dave@tileschool.org |
 |
Sam Allman is president of Allman Consulting and Training. He is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, consultant, trainer and author who delivers inspiring programs in areas such as leadership, customer service, management development, team building, retail sales and personal quality management. He has developed many audio and video programs and has created hundreds of training and educational learning systems. He can be reached at (770) 425-2142 or at sam@allmanconsulting.com. |
 |
Rick Brian is President of R.B. Brian and Associates, Inc. (www.RBBAinc.com), a management and marketing consulting company he founded in 1997. His clients are primarily manufacturers and distributors in the hardwood flooring and building products industries. Rick is a former president of Robbins Hardwood Flooring and past board member of the NWFA, MFMA, and NOFMA. He is currently a member of the NAFCD and NWFA. RBBA is headquartered in Southern Pines, NC. Call 513/310-6938 or rbrian@RBBAinc.com |
 |
Annette Callari is a highly regarded interior design expert with over 20 years of residential and commercial design experience. She is district manager for Mannington/Amtico in Southern California. She is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers, a contributing member of Color Marketing Group International, and has authored numerous articles on color and design trends. She holds a degree in interior design from Fullerton College in Fullerton, California, and a professional writer’s Certificate from California State University at Fullerton. You can reach her at Annette_callari@mannington.com |
 |
Dave Stafford is a flooring industry veteran who retired as executive vice president of Commercial Carpets of America (“CCA”), a major independent flooring dealer in northern Virginia. Dave has served as vice chairman of Floor Covering Installation Contractor’s Association (FCICA), and is currently a member of their Industry Relations Committee. He was honored in 2007 with Honorary Lifetime Membership for his contributions to the flooring industry. Dave provides consulting services in government contracts and business operations. Call (703) 926-1288 or email dave@dsainfo.com |
 |
Lew Migliore is president of LGMTCS and Associates in Dalton, GA. He is the author and publisher of “The Commercial Flooring Report” a monthly newsletter dealing with commercial flooring issues and information for commercial flooring contractors, manufacturers, designers, specifiers, and users of commercial flooring products. He is also the originator and instructor of the LGM Carpet Seminar, the industry’s only independent, objective, and impartial seminar on all aspects of carpet. Email him at lgmtcs@optilink.us |