How Commercial Flooring Toledo Built A Legacy From A Card Table
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Explore the growth of Commercial Flooring Toledo, a Starnet member specializing in healthcare and education. From its humble beginnings in 2010 to winning Gold at the 2025 Starnet Design Awards, discover how Mike Rajner and his team prioritize customer responsiveness and innovative flooring solutions.
The Origin Story: Grit and a Card Table
The journey of Commercial Flooring Toledo began during a volatile economy. After their previous employer closed its local branch, Mike Rajner and his father, Chuck, were encouraged by loyal customers to stay in business.
Starting with nothing more than a shared computer and a card table in, the duo handled every aspect of the business themselves, from estimating and project management to physical deliveries. To build a sustainable foundation, they intentionally kept overhead low and reinvested everything back into the company, with neither taking a paycheck for the first year.
Market Specialization: Healthcare and Education
In the Toledo market, which lacks a high density of Fortune 500 headquarters, Mike Rajner specializes in two stable and growing sectors, healthcare and education. They offer solutions for all markets, but over the years these two segments have been the backbone of the company.
- Education: The company primarily focuses on direct end-user relationships with school systems. This strategy allows them to manage complex renovation schedules during tight Christmas and summer breaks, often completing projects “on time and on budget” despite high pressure.
- Healthcare: By building trust with architects and designers, they provide “early-entry” consulting, offering budgeting and material recommendations long before the first tile is laid.
Award-Winning Design and Innovation
One of the coolest features when you visit Commercial Flooring Toledo is that they don’t just install products; they showcase flooring throughout their entire office. They have linoleum desks and porcelain wall panels. This continuously commitment to excellence paid off at the Starnet Design Awards. They won Gold at the 2025 Design Awards for the Owens Community College Nursing Center. By working closely with construction managers and designers from the early stages, they executed a facility that was both beautiful and highly functional for medical training.
A Starnet Advantage and A Winning Culture
As a long-standing member of the Starnet Commercial Flooring cooperative, Mike Rajner credits the organization with helping the company punch above their weight class. Key benefits include:
- Networking: They have access from the best practices and market insights from non-competing peers across the country.
- Vendor Access: They get direct conversations with upper management at major flooring manufactures.
- Professional Development: Thanks to Starnet University they extended their technical services into epoxy, polished concrete, and more.
The core philosophy of Commercial Flooring Toledo is simple: make the customer’s job easier. Mike Rajner emphasizes that they are not just installers, but partners who help clients navigate long-term maintenance costs and scheduling challenges. “We’re not going to dodge phone calls or avoid people,” Mike notes, reinforcing that honesty and responsiveness are the pillars of their continued success.