When my business partner, Larry Burt, and I purchased Kansas’ Interior Surface Enterprises in 2007, we had some very simple and basic goals for the business.

With 62 years combined experience in the commercial flooring industry and extensive experience on the operations and installation side, we were eager to assume ownership of a business and leverage the many lessons we had learned. Plus, our investment was a “family affair,” as our wives, Cindy Burt and Janell Porter, planned to work with us to grow our new business—and we were all excited about the challenge ahead.