20 Years and Counting

This issue marks my 20^th anniversary reporting on and covering this amazing industry. And while I’m not expecting to get flooded with gold watches, I did want to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people I’ve met since December 1993.

First, let me apologize, as I don’t normally like to make “me” the story, I’m the one who is supposed to be covering the story. But being that we are in full swing of the holiday season, a point in the year when people of all faiths and beliefs give thanks I felt now was as good a time as any to offer my sincere gratitude to everyone who has come along over these last 20 years and allowed me to be in the position I am.

As someone who has a degree in photojournalism—yes I’m one of the few who is doing what he went to school for, sort of—and spent a handful of years as a photographer, writer and editor at what I call “real” newspapers—I will be the first to admit I never expected my life’s work—and love—would be covering the flooring industry.

But make no mistake about it, I am happy as can be I have been involved with the industry for this long, and I hope to be for many more years. My reasoning is simple: Yes, this can be a very large industry when looked at from a bird’s eye view but, in reality, it is all about the people. And that is what I love and why I’ve dedicated my career to this industry—because of the people.

From the CEOs of the largest corporations to the folks breaking their knees and backs installing the products and everyone in between, this is truly a people industry, and it is filled with a bunch of great people. Sure there are some rotten apples—nothing is perfect—but one can’t let a few sour souls ruin all the good, hard work done by thousands of people every day.

BTW, when it comes to this industry I have come to realize, maybe more than most, how important it actually is. Most people take their floors for granted, but think about it this way, there is not a single person in the civilized world who, unless bedridden, does not touch a floor covering every single day. In fact, there is possibly no other product in the world that can make the claim every person in the world uses it every day of their lives.

So, yes, the flooring industry is vitally important to society, and as a journalist I do find it fascinating to see how different cultures and people utilize and think about their floors.

But in the end, it still comes down to the people in this industry who keep me motivated and excited to go to work each day.

Let me end by paraphrasing my mentor and industry Hall of Famer Al Wahnon, who once wrote about this industry and his feelings toward it: “I believe happiness is people. How often has it been said that this is a people industry? I know it is. I have made so many good friends in this industry and shared so many wonderful times with them…It is difficult to separate myself from the people who populate this industry…Through the years, I felt their every emotion, every joy, every disappointment…I have always been part of the floor covering industry and the people who breathe life into it. And it will always be a part of me.”