Luigi Di Geso has been named president and CEO of MAPEI Americas, succeeding Rainer Blair. Di Geso has worked for MAPEI for almost 10 years, most recently as general manager for Mapei, Inc. in Canada, where he managed all aspects of the business, including operations and sales functions.

Lauzon Distinctive Hardwood Flooring has added Dealers Supply North Inc. as a distributor. Based in Columbus, Ohio, with satellite offices in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Dealers will cover Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, along with western Pennsylvania and northern Indiana.

Tarkett has made a $165 million share purchase offer to acquire in full its subsidiary Sintelon AD, listed on the Belgrade Stock Exchange. Since 2002, Sintelton, based in Backa Palanka, Serbia, has been the holding company for Tarkett’s activities in Eastern Europe with subsidiary companies in Serbia, Russia and Ukraine.

The World Floor Covering Association recently hosted a media tour in New York City, bringing along more than 30 products showcased at Surfaces 2009. These products ranged from patent-leather crocodile embossed tiles to a hardwood floor from a company that donates 100 percent of the profits to charity.

Kathy Ireland, a leading brand partner for Shaw in the company’s broadloom and rug divisions, recently released a new book, REAL SOLUTIONS FOR BUSY MOMS: Your Guide to Success and Sanity. To promote the book, which discusses the model and designer’s relationship with home products like Shaw flooring, Ireland conducted a nationwide media tour which included major appearances on NBC’s The Today Show, Hannity, FOX & Friends, 700 Club, Mike & Juliet, Extra, Larry King and co-hosting CBS’s The Early Show. She also appeared on the cover of People magazine, including a spread within the publication. The media tour earned over 20 million household impressions, Shaw estimated.

USG’s newly published 2009 Gypsum Construction Handbook has been designed as a tool for architects, contractors and other industry professionals who need information on building products quickly, the company says.

CoMc LLC, maker of the Avaire porcelain floating tile system, has added three new distributors: Tom Duffy Co., Midwest Floor Coverings and Lumbermen’s Inc. Tom Duffy will cover California, Arizona and Nevada. Midwest will serve Utah, Colorado and Idaho. Lumbermen's will distribute in Michigan, Indiana and western Ohio.

The recent Bliss Earthquake Sale in La Miranda, Calif., was a success, according to Beaulieu officials on the scene. “The last time we opened our doors to our customer base was eight years ago for the grand opening of our facility. This time around we had an even bigger turnout due, in large part, to aggressive promotional pricing and the unveiling of our newly remodeled Bliss showroom,” said Dan Croix of Beaulieu.

Citing the need for greater production efficiency and cost control, Shaw Industries said it will close Plant LW, a laminate production facility in Algona, Wash., by early July. The move will affect approximately 62 employees. The company said it will consolidate its laminate manufacturing operations into one facility, located in Ringgold, Ga., and streamline its processing and distribution channels during the transition.

Sam Allman, retail consultant and NFT columnist, will present a free webinar on effective leadership on June 2, at 2 p.m. EST. One topic he will cover is on developing a relationship with your staffers.