I’m John Apodaca, born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. If you had told me years ago that I’d one day lead a successful company, sit on the advisory board of the Certified Flooring Installers (CFI), and be the president of the Colorado chapter I would’ve laughed. Not because I didn’t have dreams, but because I didn’t think I had the right to dream. 

You see, I didn’t grow up with a foundation. I spent most of my childhood in the state system in and out of group homes. Not because I was a bad kid, but because I was placed there. To this day, I still don’t know why. What I do know is that those places weren’t easy. They teach you to survive, not thrive. Survival taught me to trust no one and to rely only on myself. Without family support or guidance, I hit the streets young and made choices that came with consequences. 

Those choices cost me fifteen years of my life. I served a long prison sentence, and when I got out, I fell back into old patterns. That led to another five-year sentence — this time, federal. That was my wake-up call. In that cold, quiet cell, I made a decision: I wasn’t going to die the man I had been. 

I got my GED behind bars. When I was released, I hit the ground running. I enrolled in college and studied business management and computer science. I held a 3.8 GPA. For the first time in a long time, I was proud of myself. But the real turning point came when an old friend introduced me to flooring. 

It was supposed to be just a job. Instead, I found my calling. 

I fell in love with the trade and after six months, I started my own company. I had the passion, but I needed to learn more. I moved to Denver, where I met Dale Ellington of Colorado Custom Carpets. I didn’t have a polished résumé or portfolio to prove my worth. What I had was my story. I told it to him straight and to my surprise, he listened. He gave me a chance, became my mentor and invested in my future. 

He sent me to the Ardex Academy to train in heat welding and flash cove installation. Then, he sent me to Phenix City, Alabama where my journey with CFI began. 

At CFI, I earned my first certification in LVT. I felt like I had finally found the place I belonged. Hungry to grow, I went on to earn certifications in hardwood, laminate, carpet installation, Protect-All flooring, and commercial tile. I completed technical programs with Ardex, Bona and Milliken. 

Every certification wasn’t just a credential; it was a piece of my redemption. 

 Today, I stand in a life I once thought was out of reach. I’m the proud owner of a $680,000 home. I run a successful company with five certified workers and three crews. I’m married to a strong, beautiful woman, Valerie, who has been my rock. We have five children and three incredible grandchildren.

I’m also a man of deep faith. I leave everything in God’s hands because I know where I came from, and I know the road it took to get here. 

Serving on the CFI Advisory Board and leading the Colorado chapter are not just accomplishments, they’re proof that it’s never too late to become who you were meant to be. 

My mission now is simple: to help others rise. I believe that when you help others, you help yourself. Do good—good things happen. Do bad—bad things happen. Do nothing—nothing happens.  

To anyone who feels lost: your past doesn’t define your future. I’m living proof.