The Flooring Podcast with Mike Harris

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 yea...

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 fi...

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 ex...

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,...

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 Cor...

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 spen...

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 an...

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 i...

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, hi...

Mike sits down with Peter McKeon, an independent representative who has been in the flooring industry for 30 years. They discuss their experience working on commission, various flooring products, and the evolution of the market. Peter shares personal stories about his upbringing as one of 13 children, his involvement in charitable causes like the Pan-Mass Challenge, and his family's medical breakt...

Mike welcomes Mike Webster, Vice President at Capozza Floor Covering Center in Portland, Maine. They discuss the complexities and growth of the flooring industry in the New England market. Mike Webster shares the history of Capozza, a family-owned business spanning three generations, and his own 16-year journey from warehouse worker to Vice President. The episode covers various aspects of the busi...

Mike welcomes David Pineda, the head instructor for the North Atlantic state's carpenter's flooring division. They discuss David's 20-year journey in the flooring industry, the union's training programs, and the skills required for successful flooring installation. David talks about the enrollment process, the detailed curriculum, and the importance of punctuality and professionalism for apprentic...

Mike welcomes Daniel McCarthy from Allegheny Contract Flooring. The two discuss their similar beginnings in marketing and transition into the flooring industry, working together over the last decade. Daniel shares insights on various aspects of the commercial flooring business including union and non-union work, surface preparation, the use of Supercap trucks, and evolving flooring technologies. T...

Mike talks with Dan Auditore, the president and owner of Allegheny Contract Flooring. They discuss Dan's background and history within the family business, his unexpected inheritance of the company alongside his brother following their father's sudden passing, and the challenges and successes they experienced. Dan shares insights about his early career in construction, the strategic return to the...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Flooring Podcast with Mike Harris, where we explore all things related to flooring in commercial construction. Mike sits down with Steven Hilton, a seasoned expert with 22 years in the flooring industry. Steve discusses his journey, the evolution of flooring technologies, and his experiences working with UCX Northeast. The conversation covers key industry ch...