The Flooring Podcast with Mike Harris

Mike welcomes Steve and Kathy Cloud of M. Frank Higgins at Pod617 Studios, discussing the company’s origins after WWII, its Boston roots, and the 1952 incorporation of the Connecticut operation launched after work at Westover Air Force Base. Steve describes entering the family business after Notre Dame, becoming president at 27–28 following the deaths of his mother and partner B. Albert Higgins, and how a major Yale–New Haven Hospital tower project helped propel growth. Kathy shares how she and Steve met at Notre Dame, her transition from engineering to geology and a 26-year teaching career before joining the business 15 years ago, later becoming president and driving relationship-based marketing, CEU lunch-and-learns, and industry events. They discuss faith, mentors, union labor, Starnet and NFCA leadership roles, developing the next generation including son Travis, and personal interests like boating, travel, and Steve’s wine cellar.
 
Find Steve and Kathy at MFHiggins.com
 
Topics
00:56 Meet Steve and Kathy
02:01 Company Origins and Growth
05:34 Notre Dame Connection
06:29 How They Met
09:15 Kathy Teaching Career
10:45 Steve Takes the Helm
13:08 Kathy Joins the Business
16:14 Next Generation Leadership
18:11 Company Values and Faith
19:22 Hospital Project Partnerships
21:42 Mentors and Life Lessons
24:28 Challenges and Networking
27:22 Show Returns Bigger
28:03 AGC Board Lessons
29:13 Notre Dame Birthday Story
29:46 Boats Travel Grandkids
31:30 Wine Cellar Passion
33:19 Sports Talk Detour
34:50 Women In Flooring
36:47 Starnet NFCA Leadership
39:24 Retirement And Family
41:53 Famous Three Questions
46:14 Closing Thanks And Wrap

Mike welcomes Raymond Mancini Jr., CEO of UCX (formerly Belknap White), to discuss UCX’s history as a third-generation family business that began with a Rhode Island liquor distributor (Providence Beverage Company) and entered flooring in 1982 by buying Rifco and focusing on the Armstrong brand. Mancini explains how the company grew through consolidation—acquiring 12 distributors over about 45 years, including JJ Haines in 2019—expanding from New England to 28 states from Maine to Florida and Texas, covering about 70% of the U.S. population. He outlines the UCX rebrand (“Ultimate Customer Experience”), relationship-driven culture, leadership values, and logistics advantage with 140–150 trucks. They also cover Mancini’s education and mentors, hiring from Bryant MBA classmates, industry trends (consolidation, succession, private equity/ESOPs), and future impacts of AI.
 
Contact Ray at  rmancini@ucx.com. 
 
Topics
01:27 UCX Origins and Family Legacy
02:19 From Liquor to Flooring Distribution
04:23 Armstrong Focus and Early Territory
05:25 Acquisitions and East Coast Expansion
07:18 Rebrand to UCX and Customer Experience
08:56 Leadership Journey and Mentors
12:20 Cranston Roots and Pop Culture Detour
14:00 Hiring Talent and Building the Team
16:04 Logistics Advantage and Company Culture
20:58 Customer Success Mindset
21:11 Real Housewives Rhode Island
21:36 Rhode Island Favorites
22:35 Family and Empty Nest
23:33 Fourth Generation Plans
24:25 Acquisition Playbook
27:09 Industry Future Trends
30:05 AI and Relationships
32:07 Adapting Like Music
33:16 Three Fun Questions
37:26 Wrap Up and Contact

Mike interviews Jared Colombo of JC Floors, a family business founded by his father in 1989 after inheriting accounts from Somerville Floors, then expanding from East Boston to Wilmington and now Billerica, with 15–20 office staff and 30–60 union installers. He explains the roles of his parents and siblings, and highlights longtime project manager Ed Higgins. Jared outlines JC’s focus on tenant fit-outs in downtown Boston and notes post-COVID office trends toward enhanced amenities and likely office-to-apartment conversions. He shares personal background (Peabody, BU, Westford), early work hustles, and starting in the warehouse before moving into estimating and buyouts. Industry topics include NEFCA board involvement, union recruiting, buying-group participation, AI’s potential in estimating, and a detailed discussion of change orders and documentation.
 
Topics
00:54 Nicknames and Small Talk
01:36 How JC Floors Started
03:35 Ed Higgins Industry Veteran
05:05 Family Roles at JC Floors
06:24 Typical Projects and Market
07:08 Post COVID Office Changes
09:08 Jared Background and Homebuying
10:31 Remote Work During COVID
11:45 School Years and Early Hustles
15:17 Bachelor Trips and Travel Stories
17:37 Career Path in the Business
19:02 Brother Joins the Trade
19:42 Business Outlook and Crew Size
20:49 Unions and NEFCA Role
22:47 Recruiting the Next Generation
24:03 Buying Groups and Conferences
25:33 AI for Estimating
27:05 Change Orders Explained
30:35 Famous Three Questions
34:15 Italian Roots and Family Life
35:58 Wrap Up and Contact Info

Mike interviews Jamie Lopez of Allegheny Contract about his flooring career, leadership, and personal background. Lopez, originally from El Salvador, came to Chelsea at 15 without speaking English and later built a career starting at union shop Circle Floors before leaving to seek more opportunity, briefly working independently and in California, then returning to Boston and gaining job-running experience through a non-union shop. He describes advancing at Allegheny during major early-2000s Cambridge/Boston growth and leading large projects including Battery Wharf and a Natick job installing wood in 500 luxury apartments in six weeks with extensive logistics and multiple crews. Lopez credits success to clear protocols, craftsmanship, and collaboration, and shares a Paris, France project that led to a client-funded family vacation. He cites mentors, emphasizes minimizing waste of time/materials/talent, and answers fun questions about coffee ice cream, grilling steak, and desired travel destinations.
 
Topics
00:46 Meet Jamie Lopez
02:49 Union Beginnings
04:45 Leaving the Union
05:34 Back to Boston
08:03 Running Bigger Jobs
09:21 Natick Six Week Sprint
11:35 How They Pulled It Off
15:08 Craft Pride and Floors
15:51 Immigration and Family
17:10 Home Life and Daughters
17:54 Hiking and Outdoors
18:45 White Mountains Reflections
19:39 Mentors And Standards
21:17 Why Ardex Matters
22:18 Paris Job Origin Story
25:54 Design Details And Perfection
28:46 Vacation Surprise Reward
31:53 What Sets Allegheny Apart
34:15 Famous Three Questions
36:02 Thanks And Sign Off

Mike interviews LeeAnn DiPietropolo of Spartan Surfaces about her 25-year flooring distribution career, including 17 years at Sales Master after Western Carpet lost the AROC VCT line, and how Spartan’s acquisition expanded her work from contractor-driven sales to architect/designer specification for commercial projects like hospitals and schools. She describes Spartan’s product mix (rubber, Roppe, EVA/Capri Eco Surfaces, ceramic tile, wood, and installation supplies like MAPEI and Bostik), and shares her relationship-first sales philosophy and upcoming book, “Soul to Soul Selling.” Leanne also discusses her 501(c) charity Santa’s Porch, which has run for 10 years and helped over 1,000 children last year, including recognition on Live with Kelly and Ryan. She serves as vendor partner on the NEFCA board and addresses being a woman in a male-dominated industry, sustainability trends like PVC-free flooring, and current strength in the Boston market.
 
Mike Harris: michaelharris76@gmail.com
LeeAnn DiPietropolo:  LDiPietropolo@spartanservices.com
 
Topics
00:45 Italian Nicknames Banter
01:55 Career at Sales Master
03:10 Spartan Transition and Spec Work
04:26 Product Lines and Job Types
06:18 From Philly to Massachusetts
07:59 Family Life and Kids
09:16 Sales Mentors and Roots
11:23 Soul to Soul Selling Book
13:16 Santa's Porch Charity
15:59 NEFCA Role and Mission
16:48 Owner Side Insights
17:16 Vendor Showcase Plans
17:28 Santas Porch Donation
19:20 Union Jobsite Economics
21:27 Life In Westerly
22:22 Nickname Call In
23:07 Women In Flooring
25:31 Green Materials Shift
27:41 Boston Market Outlook
28:21 Family Sports Stories
29:20 Famous Three Questions
31:20 Travel And Wrap Up

Mike welcomes Steve Becht, a Boston-market wood flooring expert with 43 years in the industry. Becht recounts starting in estimating at Circle Floors after studying architectural engineering at Wentworth and civil engineering at Northeastern, learning under mentors including Phil Maria, then working at Allegheny and Congress before buying Charles Auditory Flooring in 1991, later renaming it BE Corporation and completing notable restoration and museum projects. He explains industry shifts such as manufacturer consolidation, engineered and prefinished wood trends, and the challenge of installing wood in uncontrolled commercial environments due to moisture and humidity changes. Becht sold BE Corp to Pavilion in 2016, helped build a specialty flooring division, then experienced Pavilion’s acquisition by Diversify. He now runs Redhawk Solutions, offering consulting, diagnostics, specification help, mentoring, and tools like Climate (formerly Floorcloud) and Clearstory.
 
Mike Harris: michaelharris76@gmail.com
 Steve Becht:  Steve.Becht@redhawkflooringsolutions.com 
 
Topics
 
00:37 Show Welcome
01:23 Meet Steve Becht
02:13 Early Career Origins
02:49 Circle Floors Mentors
04:18 Allegheny Connections
05:17 Manufacturer Buyouts Era
06:39 Buying A Wood Business
07:50 Simmons Flood Save
08:40 BE Corporation Growth
09:48 Historic Restoration Work
10:37 Arsenal Mall Leveling
11:59 Prep Adhesives Evolution
13:11 Commercial Wood Trends
14:25 Museums And Moisture
15:13 Exit To Pavilion
16:31 Specialty Division Build
17:59 Family And Career Pride
18:36 Family Updates
19:17 Traveling The World
20:41 Sports Tickets And Roots
23:04 Pavilion To Diversify
25:28 Launching Redhawk Solutions
27:31 Wood Flooring Challenges
29:06 Exotics And Jobsite Reality
31:56 Tech Tools And Partnerships
35:13 Rapid Fire Favorites
37:45 Wrap Up And Sponsors
 

Mike is joined by David Ruggieri of Ruggieri Brothers in Rhode Island, a third-generation flooring company founded in 1949 by David’s grandfather and his two brothers after World War II, evolving from linoleum and residential tract homes into major commercial work. David describes growing up in Warwick, working summers in the field, studying accounting and computer science at Quinnipiac, then spending about seven years in public accounting focused on construction subcontractors before returning as president and treasurer, alongside cousin Peter. Jeri Brothers operates both commercial and retail (Carpet One), with revenues about 75% commercial and 25% residential, roughly 30 office staff and 50–70 field workers, and recently earned Carpet One Diamond Club recognition. David discusses Starnet membership since 1994, his role chairing its meetings committee, and serving as NFCA president, highlighting labor bargaining and industry education. They also cover industry changes toward digital estimating, LVT and carpet tile, and emerging AI.
 
Visit https://ruggieribrosflooring.com/
 
Topics
00:45 Meet David Ruggieri
01:44 Ruggieri Brothers Origins
03:53 Family Roles Today
05:16 Nicknames And Legacy
06:38 Growing Up In The Trade
08:12 Accounting Career Detour
10:06 Cancun And Marco Stories
11:54 Outside Experience Pays Off
15:22 Rhode Island Roots And Pride
16:51 Family Life And Hometown
19:04 Business Scope And Retail
19:56 Business Mix and Payroll
21:00 Diamond Club Recognition
21:49 Starnet Membership Benefits
24:50 NFCA Leadership and Mission
27:39 Family Legacy and Tagline
29:30 Industry Changes and AI
31:33 Patriots Projects and Fandom
34:19 Rapid Fire Favorites
38:27 Closing Thanks and Website

John Gabaree recounts his 20+ year career in epoxy, polished concrete, and urethane cements, starting at Industrial Abrasive Blasting (IAB) in Gloucester, where he brought polished concrete into the business after Schofield certification, then building a major epoxy/polish division at Business Interiors with peaks of 45–50 field staff across 7–11 jobs. He discusses BI’s sale to Capital Flooring and his move to the Jantile Group, which includes large New York operations and Jantile Boston’s union tile/stone business. John is now president of the newly formed Jantile Flooring Systems, expanding into epoxy, polished concrete, and also carpet, resilient, and wood. The episode covers expectation-setting for on-site coatings, prep methods (shot blasting vs. grinding), power and access limits, silica dust control, and purchasing new equipment. John also shares personal background, Patriots tailgates, and former wedding DJ experience.
 
Topics
00:43 Meet John Gabaree
01:24 Breaking Into Flooring
02:05 IAB and Polished Concrete
03:08 Business Interiors Growth
04:56 BI Sale and Free Agency
05:51 Why Epoxy Is Different
06:43 Joining Jantile Boston
09:23 Life and Family Roots
10:26 Pats Tickets and Florida
11:45 The Wedding DJ Years
13:09 Wedding DJ Lessons
14:45 Flooring Question Segment
14:55 Epoxy Versus Soft Goods
18:40 Prep Methods And Dust
21:09 New Equipment At Jantile
23:17 Final Three Questions
25:54 Wrap Up And Contact

Mike Harris welcomes guest John Felker, Manager of National Strategic Accounts for Ardex. The conversation covers a wide range of topics including their professional history, particularly their time together at Ardex, the evolution of the tiling and stone industries, and the unique aspects of working within a family-owned business. John shares personal anecdotes such as his background growing up in Columbus, Ohio, his unexpected journey into the industry, and his love for running marathons and poetry. The episode concludes with a light-hearted rapid-fire round where John shares his favorite ice cream flavor, Dunkin' order, and comfort food meal. The discussion is filled with insights on career growth, lifelong passions, and the importance of maintaining a balanced life.
 
Topics
00:36 Guest Introduction: John Felker from Ardex
01:37 Reflecting on Retirement and Social Aspects of Work
02:38 John's Background and Career Journey
04:38 Ardex: A Family-Owned Business
06:12 Leadership and Longevity at Ardex
08:48 John's Family and Personal Life
15:07 John's Running Journey
17:05 Turning 60: A New Competitive Edge
17:28 The Evolution of Ardex's Hardscape Business
20:20 Training and Innovation in Hardscapes
21:54 Personal Passions: Poetry and Journaling
24:15 Life Lessons from Boy Scouts
26:56 Storytelling and Humility
31:06 Final Reflections and Farewell

Mike interviews Craig Morris, a business development manager from Ardex. The conversation delves into Craig's background, from his roots in Pittsburgh to his extensive career in the flooring industry. They cover Craig's journey through Ardex, including his roles and responsibilities, and share insights into the company's innovative products. The discussion also touches on Craig's personal life, his connection to Cape Cod, and his experiences working with industry professionals. Craig's anecdotes about his family, his time in the military, and his fondness for Boston and Venice, Florida add a personal touch to the professional narrative.
 
Topics
00:41 Meet Craig Morris: A Journey from Pittsburgh to South Florida
01:19 Craig's Career Path with Ardex
03:17 The Challenges and Rewards of Handling Claims
03:37 Craig's New Role in Business Development
06:42 Craig's Early Life and Entry into Flooring
07:45 Military Service and Career Transition
10:14 Family Ties and Sibling Success Stories
15:07 Innovations in Flooring Products
21:25 The Bubble Incident and Lessons Learned
22:29 Communication and Technical Knowledge
24:58 Personal Connections and Family
26:43 Union Collaborations and Training
30:07 Reflections on Mentorship and Legacy
37:08 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks