The International Surface Event (TISE) named the winners of the 2025 National Installer of the Year Competition on January 30, 2025, on the TISE Live Stage. Eight competitors completed complex work orders for luxury vinyl plank and carpet, and the winners took home $3,000 and the coveted championship belt.  

Matt Bowles with Cre8tive Flooring in the United Kingdom won the luxury vinyl plank (LVP) category. He competed in and won the LVP category at the TISE Regional Competition held in Dalton, Georgia.  

Allen Lewis with Eagle Interiors in Phenix City, Alabama, took home the win in the carpet category. He competed in and won the carpet category at the TISE Regional Competition in Dalton, Georgia.  

Lewis’ strategy going into the final was to “break [the installation] into smaller pieces—manageable pieces, trying to hit all the marks using all the things we learned through CFI and to really pay attention to the small details—check and balance my work.” 

“This could have been the best overall group of competitors we've had," said Dave Garden, executive director of education for the Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) association. "The work they turned in was absolutely phenomenal."

There were two LVP competitors who did not complete their installs; however, their scores were not far off from the ones who did complete their work order. “That tells you how good their talent is,” he said.  

This year’s panel of judges were led by Don Styka, director of field services, Tarkett. The carpet category judges were Jerry Miller with Miller’s Flooring Consultants; Paul Carrell with Shaw Industries; Bruce Gentry with Mohawk Industries; John Cox with Tarkett Home; and Kenny Miles with Nourison.  

The LVP judges were Joe Cea with Congoleum; David Carter with Milliken; Shane Jenkins with Schönox; Val Chestohin with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); and Steve Schaefer with Mannington. 

Gentry, field service manager, Mohawk, judged the carpet category where he was responsible for studying all aspects of installation, including installation of the tackless strips, padding, seam cutting, seam sealing, pattern alignment and straightening, step installation, border work, and following the supplied work order.   

“All the competitors represented their company’s well,” Gentry said. “They all should be extremely proud of their achievements. I had the top two candidates finish within two points of one another out of 250+ possible points to be earned.”   

According to Gentry what stood out most about Lewis was “the pride he took in turning in the finished installation, his hand skills, and being a second-generation installer.”   

Chestohin, floorcovering instructor DC 16 JATTF, IUPAT, was one of the hard surface judges. He had to pay close attention to the finished product, including all of the installation processes used to complete the project.  

“The competition was very close between all the competitors competing this year in the LVP category not only at the TISE show, but also at all the regionals,” he said. “All the participants did a great job and are very good installers, but Matt’s close attention to detail pulled him ahead to be our choice for this year’s champion.” 

As a representative of Mohawk, a CFI member and veteran flooring installer, Gentry is passionate about the competition and the regionals leading up to it, “It’s great to see younger tradesmen pursuing and continuing a field that is dwindling before our eyes. The excitement that was buzzing around the floor was amazing. I was asked multiple times those two days, ‘How do I qualify to participate next year?’ It’s extremely important for manufacturing because our products are incomplete until successfully installed. The owner of the manufacturer that I first went to work for in the mid-90s used to remind us that no matter how good or beautiful we made a product, it was not complete until it was on the floor and the customer was happy. Without installers, there would be no need for manufacturers, dealers, or CFI, so I feel true tradesmen and installers that take pride in their work is of the utmost importance. This competition is a way for installers to show off some of that pride.” 

Chestohin represents the union side of the flooring installation community and is a veteran flooring installer and an educator. For several years, the IUPAT has been involved with TISE, CFI, and the competition, helping with the setup and takedown of the competition booth, and judging, and have had several IUPAT members compete.  

“IUPAT Floor Covering believes that events like the Installer of the Year competition promotes the floor covering industry for all installers, retailers and manufacturers, both union and non-union alike, and welcome the chance to be part of this special event,” Chestohin said.  

Competition product sponsors include Mohawk, Performance Accessories, QEP, Roberts and Schönox. 

Regional Competition Recap 

The first regional installation competition was held on August 10, 2024, at T&A Supply Co. in Seattle, Washington. Justin Lopez took the award for the luxury vinyl plank category, and Jose Michel won the carpet category.  

All Surfaces hosted the second regional in Chicago, Illinois, on September 7, 2024. The winners were Tyler Elliott, who installed luxury vinyl planks, and Jesus Garcia, who installed carpet.  

The Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) headquarters and training facility in Dalton, Georgia, was the backdrop for the third Regional Competition. Matt Bowles won the luxury vinyl plank category, and Allen Lewis won the carpet category. 

Big D Floor Covering Supplies in Phoenix, Arizona, hosted the fourth and final TISE Regional Installation Competition. Cesar Haro-Pena won the luxury vinyl plank category, and Hugo Gutierrez won the carpet category. 

TISE National Installer of the Year 2026 Regionals 

Dates for this year’s round of regionals are to be determined, but the locations have been announced: Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Dalton, Georgia; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The categories will be engineered wood and carpet.