Louisville Tile Distributors recently promoted Tina Boyle to the position of Chief Operating Officer and it was no surprise to anyone at the firm.

"For more than three decades, Tina Boyle has been an integral part of the Louisville Tile family, consistently climbing the ladder and fearlessly embracing challenging roles," said Crosby Hall, executive vice president of corporate resources. "She rises to the occasion with every new project which speaks volumes about her depth of experience and dedication."

Tina embarked on her career journey over 32 years ago, where she began as a receptionist within the firm's Cameo Marble Division. Her subsequent tenure at Louisville Tile has seen her take on a multitude of roles, including accounts payable/receivable clerk, showroom designer, customer service specialist, information technology (IT) technician, and vice president of warehouse operations.

“Tina has done almost every job in the company," Hall added. "Her deep know-how and unwavering commitment are steering us toward even greater success."

Boyle recently shared insights about her career at Louisville Tile and in the flooring industry.

FLOOR Trends & Installation: How did you start at Louisville Tile?   

Boyle: I started as a receptionist at our Cameo Marble Division and knew right away I wanted to do more than that. So, during my off hours, I worked in the plant. Frankly, I did so just to learn everything about the cultured marble products we were selling. I would make sample boards, package orders, inspect product and other tasks just to start understanding that aspect of the business.

From there, I realized there was even a bigger world, as we were just one part of Louisville Tile. I wanted to really understand more of the overall business, so I started going to school for accounting and was supported by the company to do so. Management moved over to the Louisville Tile Division working in the accounting department. I started in accounts receivables and then worked my way up into payables. 

Working in payables was fine, and immodestly... I was really good with mathematics. But it was not what I really wanted to do! I craved to be around people, with daily face-to-face interaction. So again, management at Louisville was great and re-positioned me to where I was a good fit (for now) and I found myself working in the showroom as a designer!

FLOOR Trends & Installation: How was your experience as a designer?   

Boyle: It worked out for a while. I loved style and design and getting creative. But then came to the realization that my color sense wasn’t as strong as my other design skills. Maybe my taste didn’t fit the tastes of others?

My proven track record of success in face-to-face interactions prompted management to assign me to our contractor desk, collaborating and engaging with our clients on a daily basis. I loved it! In particular, learning the techniques, the installation methods, getting my hands dirty and dedicating myself to understanding the needs of our customer base ensuring we could effectively serve them! 

FLOOR Trends & Installation: What came next?   

Boyle: Soon, Louisville established an effective Call Center. Our company was growing and we wanted to start supporting our branches, and our customers, with even more gusto. Recognizing the increasing call volume, I stepped in to oversee the call center operations. It was a blast, for the most part! In 2008 came the recession and we made a strategic decision to shift call volume back to the branch level for improved, personal customer service.  Again, I was transitioned, this time to the IT Department, primarily because we were in the process of integrating our existing software with a new system. I ended up staying in IT for quite some time, participating in a multitude of technological endeavors, working hard to build our B2B... establishing that seamless connectivity that we have with our customers today.  

FLOOR Trends & Installation: IT was a great fit for you. Why?   

Boyle: Yes! I liked working on projects, and there were plenty of them in IT. Then Louisville initiated a series of acquisitions that aligned with our goals and I was quite intrigued. I loved spearheading big projects that ostensibly, seem like they're just too overwhelming to even start on. 

FLOOR Trends & Installation: What about these acquisitions?   

Boyle: When we started really getting into acquisitions, I dove in head first! In particular, I would head up these acquisitions going into the stores with an objective: How do you turn them into a “Louisville Tile retailer” in a short amount of time? 

After a few years, I was promoted to the role of vice president of warehouse operations. My plan was to take what my accumulated knowledge and experience and really, just start working closely with the warehouse crew. They were probably the least acknowledged team at Louisville Tile, yet one of the hardest working. The warehouse team's exceptional talent was being stifled by a lack of recognition and leadership opportunities. By celebrating their achievements and equipping them with leadership skills, we could unleash their true potential and ultimately drive organizational growth.

I spent three years as vice president/warehouse operations and had the honor of really coaching that team upwards. Today, many from the warehouse operations department have elevated to strong leaders in our company. It’s so exciting to see folks who have come from the warehouse and are now continuing to excel elsewhere in the company.

FLOOR Trends & Installation: How does the flooring industry benefit from having women in leadership roles? 

Boyle: I just did a presentation, speaking at a Women in Real Estate Event. We talked about how women in leadership roles bring diversity and inclusiveness... just the ability to see things from different vantage points. I hate to say we're different. That's the whole point right? We're not that different. We share the fundamental characteristics that are shared by most men.

Where there’s a difference is that women tend to be a little more empathetic. We are good listeners and for sure, being just that is a clear prerogative for anyone in a higher-ranking business position. 

FLOOR Trends & Installation: What was your immediate reaction when you were promoted to COO of Louisville Tile?

Boyle: My gut instinct was a mixture of pride and humility, and even more my love for my company in a way I never thought possible.