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The strength of the Starnet community has always been rooted in its commitment to collaboration and mutual success, a theme recently highlighted during Starnet events and trainings. The Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) stands as a premier example of this industry-wide support, offering a vital safety net for those facing life’s most difficult personal challenges.

Who Is Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF)?

FCIF is a dedicated non-profit organization established specifically to assist flooring industry families during times of catastrophic medical crisis. Since its founding in 1981, the foundation has operated on the core belief that no professional in our field should have to face a devastating illness, injury, or disability alone. By providing direct financial assistance, the FCIF allows families to shift their primary focus away from mounting financial pressures and toward what matters most: healing and long-term recovery.

FCIF + Starnet

One of the most important aspects of the FCIF that Starnet members should share with their teams is that eligibility extends far beyond the manufacturing sector. While some may assume the resource is limited, it is actually available to a wide range of industry participants, including retail employees, professional installers, self-employed contractors, and distributors. The foundation also understands that a medical crisis affects the entire family, which is why assistance may also be granted when a household member, such as a spouse, dependent child, or an aging parent, is the one facing a severe health struggle

When a grant is awarded, it serves as a powerful tool to maintain household stability during a period when an individual may be unable to work. These grants are designed to cover essential everyday living expenses that can quickly become unmanageable, such as mortgage or rent payments, utilities, food, and transportation costs. Crucially, these funds are provided as gifts rather than loans, meaning they never have to be repaid, providing true relief without the burden of future debt.

The path to receiving help is designed to be supportive and private, ensuring that every applicant is treated with dignity. The FCIF team provides one-on-one guidance throughout the entire application process, helping individuals navigate the necessary medical and financial documentation. All sensitive information is handled with strict confidentiality and is only reviewed by those directly involved in the evaluation process. Since every medical situation and financial circumstance is unique, the foundation encourages anyone in need to reach out to explore their options rather than assuming they might not qualify.

To learn more about eligibility or begin an application, visit fcif.org.

Top 10 Things To Know About FCIF

1. The foundation exists specifically to provide financial aid to flooring industry families during medical crises.
2. Assistance is available for household family members, including spouses, children, or aging parents.
3. Eligibility is broad and includes installers, retailers, contractors, and distributors, not just manufacturers.
4. FCIF grants are financial gifts that never have to be repaid by the recipient.
5. Grant funds can be used for basic living expenses like housing, food, and utilities.
6. The FCIF team provides personalized, one-on-one assistance throughout the application process.
7. Applicants must provide documentation to verify their medical condition and financial need.
8. All medical and financial information is handled with the highest level of confidentiality.
9. Since 1981, the foundation has provided life-changing help to more than 2,000 industry families.
10. Every application is reviewed individually, so you should reach out even if you are unsure of your eligibility.

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The Starnet Educational Roadshow continued its impactful journey with a stop in Los Angeles, centered on the core theme of “Accelerate Growth Through Strategic Alignment”. The experience kicked off with an unforgettable evening at Dodger Stadium, where members combined networking and relationship-building with a night of baseball under the LA lights. This energetic start provided a foundation for the collaboration and industry insights that defined the rest of the event.

A comprehensive full-day education session brought together a diverse group of professionals, including owners, sales leaders, marketing teams, and business development experts. These participants engaged in meaningful conversations focused on identifying new market opportunities and developing strategies to strengthen customer partnerships. The goal of the Los Angeles stop was to provide members with the tools necessary to move their businesses forward in a competitive landscape.

Key Focus Areas for Success

Attendees explored several critical topics designed to enhance their professional development and market position, including:

• Strategic alignment and sustainable sales growth.
• Competitive positioning within the commercial flooring industry.
• Partnership selling techniques and strengthening client bonds.
• Leveraging industry insights to drive measurable success.

In addition to strategic business sessions, the Roadshow featured a dedicated Installation Training Day. This provided project managers, estimators, and installation teams with essential hands-on learning opportunities. By focusing on improving project outcomes and strengthening operational excellence, these sessions reinforced the importance of technical expertise and high-quality execution in the field.

The Los Angeles event highlighted the unique nature of the Starnet community, offering a space to reconnect with longtime industry friends and build new professional relationships. A special thank you is extended to Mohawk Group for hosting and investing in this vital educational experience. As the Roadshow continues its journey across North America, the connections and ideas shared in Los Angeles demonstrate that education often happens best through collaboration and the partnerships made along the way.

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Starnet Commercial Flooring is proud to welcome Abbey Commercial Flooring to our network of professional flooring providers. With a legacy of entrepreneurial vision and a successful operational infrastructure, Abbey’s membership strengthens the Starnet community’s presence in the critical Mid-Atlantic region.

A Legacy of Resilience and Strategic Evolution

The story of Abbey Commercial Flooring began in 1987 when Shiva and Ali Cheloei Sr. established a retail flooring business in Northern Virginia. For over two decades, the company built a strong foundation in the retail sector before encountering the transformative pressure of the 2008 economic downturn. Recognizing that the market was shifting, Shiva Cheloei Sr. made the strategic decision to diversify the company’s offerings to remain competitive. This vision led to the launch of a commercial division that rapidly transitioned into a high-demand operation serving general contractors, developers, and end users across the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Over the last decade, Cheloei’s sons Ali and Amir took over this commercial division and continue to show great success in the industry.

Today, Abbey Commercial Flooring operates as a relationship-driven organization with the depth to support projects ranging from high-end boutique interiors to massive hospitality, healthcare, education developments, and more. Their capabilities have expanded far beyond traditional installations to encompass carpet, resilient flooring, hardwood, ceramic and porcelain tile, polished concrete, and specialized finishes. The company distinguishes itself through a deep commitment to providing expert collaboration and meticulous logistics coordination to ensure high-value project standards.

Future-Focused Expansion and Operational Excellence

As the company enters its next phase of growth, Abbey Commercial Flooring continues to bridge traditional entrepreneurial values with modernized project management and operational systems. The firm recently achieved a major milestone by expanding into the Richmond, Virginia market which serves as a strategic anchor for further methodical growth along the East Coast. Abbey’s leadership remains focused on sustainable growth ensuring that they maintain the same level of quality control and client service that has defined their success in their home region.

Welcome To Starnet

The decision to join Starnet represents a strategic opportunity for Abbey to collaborate with like-minded industry leaders and enhance their strategic relationships. By joining our beloved network, Abbey Commercial Flooring aims to further elevate the service they provide to their clients while continuing to build lasting industry partnerships.

“Starnet membership connects us to the best minds in the commercial flooring business nationally, while keeping Abbey firmly rooted in the markets we’ve always served. This partnership positions us to grow and compete for larger, more complex projects backed by the collective expertise of North America’s leading flooring contractors.” – Ali Cheloei

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Find A Professional Near You With Starnet Commercial Flooring

In a recent interview, Tanner McHugh sat down with Tyson Marchand of Great Floors, an ADG company, to discuss the company’s approach to maintaining excellence across its expansive regional footprint. With a 50-year history and over 26 years of dominance in the commercial sector, Great Floors has leveraged its extensive experience to navigate a wide range of market conditions. The company’s reputation is built on deep-seated relationships and a specialized understanding of the commercial flooring landscape throughout the Northwest.

The Power of Intentional Communication

Managing 14 locations from Montana to Washington requires what Marchand calls “overcommunicating”. Through a rigorous schedule of weekly, monthly, and quarterly in-person meetings, the company cascades strategy and product solutions to every team. This frequent dialogue ensures the company remains agile, allowing them to stay ahead of market shifts, such as new tariffs, while still granting local branches the independence to foster unique regional relationships.

Building Long-Term Trust Through Transparency

Transparency is a core value that earned Great Floors the Build on Trust and Collaboration award with Tarkett Johnsonite. Marchand emphasizes prioritizing long-term strategy over “quick wins,” maintaining 20-plus-year partnerships through honest dialogue. Even when a business decision requires going in a different direction than a vendor partner, Great Floors maintains integrity by clearly communicating the “why” behind their choices.

Specialized Expertise in the Education Sector

Great Floors is a powerhouse in the K-12 and Higher Education sectors, where specialized products and expert installations are essential. The company leverages its tenured staff, some of whom have been there for the company’s entire 26-year commercial history, to manage complex relationships with school districts and GCs. Constant training ensures their teams are certified and up-to-speed on the technical requirements unique to education environments.

While healthcare also remains a steady pillar, Marchand sees “tremendous growth opportunity” in the multi-family segment. By providing solutions during pre-construction to help projects stay on budget, Great Floors builds the trust necessary to secure a competitive advantage for future developments. This proactive approach often leads GCs to call Great Floors first for their next project.

Leveraging Training and Starnet

To remain a preferred vendor, Great Floors invests heavily in specialized installer and sales training. Marchand also credits Starnet for providing a collaborative environment where industry leaders can connect and share insights. By combining decades of experience with transparent leadership, Great Floors continues to set the standard for flooring excellence in the Northwest.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Tyson Marchand for sharing his insights on the importance of communication and transparency in scaling a successful flooring enterprise.

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Find A Professional Near You With Starnet Commercial Flooring

Starnet partner XGS continues to strengthen its national footprint with the strategic opening of a new operations center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This milestone follows a successful expansion in El Paso, Texas, and aligns with XGS’s commitment to providing best-in-class logistics solutions for the Starnet Commercial Flooring network. By heading west, XGS is enhancing its ability to deliver the operational excellence and high-quality service that the Starnet community depends on for creating world-class interior spaces.

The new Las Vegas facility is designed to optimize customer experiences by offering increased operational capacity and improved flexibility for support operations. These enhancements provide vital business continuity and broader geographic coverage, allowing XGS to respond effectively to growing client demand across the Southwest. This strategic move not only empowers partners with scalable shipping solutions but also creates new opportunities for local employment and workforce growth within the region.

As XGS expands to 30 locations nationwide, they remain dedicated to their mission of delivering outstanding customer service and supporting the professional flooring community. For more information on leveraging XGS’s logistics network, Starnet members can contact Charlie Young, Manager of Regional Accounts, or Trish Kugelman, Director of Strategic Sales. General inquiries can also be directed to their website at www.xgsi.com to learn how this expansion further supports the profitable growth of the industry.

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Find A Professional Near You With Starnet Commercial Flooring

In a recent interview, Tanner McHugh sat down with Kaylee Girard of Creative Design Flooring to discuss the company’s remarkable journey from a two-person startup to a powerhouse in the Arizona market. With a legacy spanning over 30 years, Creative Design Flooring has successfully navigated rapid growth by balancing robust operational processes with a culture that prioritizes individual relationships.

The Power of Individual Relationships and Scaling

A core pillar of Creative Design Flooring’s longevity is its focus on the individual rather than just the corporate entity. Girard notes that the company maintains relationships with everyone involved in a project, from end-users and designers to superintendents and interns.

• Long-Term Loyalty: This people-first approach means that as professionals move to different companies, they often take Creative Design Flooring with them as a preferred partner.
• Structured Growth: To manage this expansion without losing their personal touch, the company has developed rigorous processes and procedures. By assembling dedicated teams, they ensure that clients never feel the company has grown “too big” to provide focused service.

Navigating the Arizona Market Pipeline

While multi-family housing remains the “bread and butter” for Creative Design Flooring, the sector continues to grow and keeps the team consistently busy. Being a part of this expanding market has been an exciting journey for the company as they maintain their strong presence in Arizona.

In addition to their core business, the data center market in Phoenix is currently booming, with the company bidding on new projects almost every week. The healthcare sector also remains a steady force in their pipeline.

Leveraging the Starnet Partnership

As a relatively new Starnet member, Creative Design Flooring has aggressively utilized the network’s educational and networking opportunities to drive internal development.

• Business Development: Girard highlighted the hands-on training program, the Business Development Seminar, that had an immediate impact on their team. One employee, Amanda, was so inspired by the training that she transitioned into a sales role the moment they returned to Arizona.
• Emerging Leaders: Participating in the Emerging Leaders group (formerly NextGen) has allowed Girard to connect with peers who understand the nuances of the flooring industry, providing a valuable support system of non-local competitors.
• Vendor Engagement: Starnet events have also facilitated direct connections with major vendors, such as Mike Patrick from Milliken, who later visited their office to provide motivational training for the staff.

Looking Ahead

Despite their success as a powerhouse company, Creative Design Flooring remains committed to its roots, keeping the office culture light, upbeat, and fun. By combining a high-energy work environment with the professional resources provided by Starnet, they are well-positioned to continue their growth in the thriving Arizona market.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Kaylee Girard for sharing her insights on scaling a family business while maintaining a world-class culture.

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In a recent interview at a Starnet event, Tanner McHugh sat down with Luke Bosek of Matter Surfaces to discuss how the company is redefining the entryway industry. Matter Surfaces is moving entryways from an afterthought to a critical component of a building’s design and longevity. By focusing on a “system approach” rather than a single product, the company is helping commercial contractors protect their larger flooring investments while creating a powerful first impression for clients.

The Shift from “Throwaway Mats” to Entry-Rated Systems

One of the most significant challenges Matter Surfaces addresses is the prevalence of lightweight, temporary mats that curl, ripple, and fail to provide safety or performance. Bosek emphasizes that Matter Surfaces provides highly graded materials designed for high-traffic environments.

Their “workhorse” products are engineered to reduce curls or flip over, along with reducing trip-and-fall hazards. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the company offers a mix of custom logos, grates, grills, and specialized fibers to meet the specific needs of different facilities, from healthcare to corporate offices.

The “Foot in the Door” Strategy

Matter Surfaces views entryway products as more than just functional tools; they are a strategic “foot in the door” for contractors and sales people. Bosek uses the analogy that entryways are the “French fries with the steak”, meaning the essential compliment of the overall flooring package.

The primary goal is to protect the “big shiny high square footage” materials like LVT and carpet from destructive elements like sand and salt. By offering an end-user a solution that stops their floors from being destroyed, contractors can earn more trust and secure future business compared to simply replacing damaged floors.

Matter Surfaces’ custom logo mats also serves as the “breadth of offerings” that allows a building to tell its story from the moment a visitor steps inside. Matter Surfaces has produced high-profile custom work for brands like Disney and institutions like Kent State. Their process involves using vector files to create custom artwork with a two-to-five-week lead time, providing a high-value add that distinguishes them from generic mat providers.

Educating the Design and Hospitality Sectors

A major focus for Matter Surfaces is closing the education gap within the Architecture & Design (A&D) community and the hospitality industry.

• The A&D Community: Through seminars and CEUs, Matter Surfaces has helped designers move beyond placing a single mat in a vestibule to designing a comprehensive “system” that accounts for inclement weather.
• The Hospitality Gap: Bosek notes that hotels are often the “biggest offenders” of lacking cohesive entryway standards. He frequently highlights these gaps, such as slippery ceramic floors in snowy vestibules, on social media as part of Bosek’s “Sunday Scaries” series to advocate for better safety and design standards.

Looking Ahead

As Matter Surfaces continues to expand, their mission remains making the complex process of specifying and installing complex systems like grills painless and profitable for Starnet members. By involving themselves in facility meetings and listening to the specific pain points of end-users, they are ensuring that entryways are no longer a “failing” part of the building’s infrastructure.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Luke Bosek for sharing these insights. His commitment to “protecting the investment” and elevating the importance of the entryway provides a valuable perspective for the entire Starnet network.

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Find A Professional Near You With Starnet Commercial Flooring

The 2026 Starnet Business Development Seminar recently concluded. The event delivered what attendees described as a high-impact experience designed to fundamentally change how the industry wins business. Bringing together a powerful collective of industry leaders, peers, and vendor partners. The seminar focused on a strategic shift: moving away from reactive bidding and more towards proactive relationship-driven market leadership.

An Environment of High-Value Engagement

The seminar was characterized by an energizing atmosphere and exceptional peer-to-peer engagement. Beyond the professional setting, participants highlighted the meaningful conversations and actionable strategies that could be implemented immediately upon returning to their respective markets.

A standout feature of the event was the rapid-fire table exchanges, which fostered honest, high-value idea sharing. This collaborative spirit extended to Starnet’s vendor partners, who provided the tools and insights necessary to deepen professional relationships and drive business growth.

The programming featured expert-led sessions aimed at unlocking new revenue streams and understanding market tipping points:

• Sourcewell: Best Value, No Compromises: Led by Bruce Campos, this session provided attendees with a roadmap for navigating structured agreements and driving negotiated business.
• A&D and End User Tipping Points: Mark Bischoff reinforced the concept that influencing a small, strategic percentage of key clients can reshape entire local markets.

The Strategic Shift: From Bidder to Trusted Advisor

At the heart of the seminar was a vital mindset that Starnet members are actively transitioning from being process for a price bidders to becoming “trusted advisors,” a move that fundamentally changes their role in the commercial real estate ecosystem. This evolution focuses on creating demand by influencing architects, designers, and end users much earlier in the planning process rather than merely reacting to market needs as they arise.

By leveraging Starnet’s exclusive established programs more intentionally, members are poised to drive millions in negotiated business. Attendees learned that focused actions, when applied with strategic intentionality, can trigger major market shifts and lead to long-term, high-margin success.

Looking Ahead

As one final thought from the event noted, the opportunity for growth is already there; with the right mindset and the professional tools provided by the Starnet partnership, members are becoming reliable full-service providers in their markets.

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Consolidated Flooring, a leading national commercial floor covering contractor, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a majority interest in Re:Source New Jersey, located in Denville, New Jersey. Re:Source New Jersey also has branch locations in East Norriton, Pa., and New Castle, Del. The company will continue to be led by its President, Steve Poniatowski, who retains a minority interest in the business.

“We are thrilled to have Steve and his team join us. This acquisition strengthens access to market segments here in Metro N.Y. as well as broadening our reach in the Northeast into the Philadelphia and Delaware markets,” said David Meberg, CEO and President of Consolidated Flooring.

“Consolidated is a leader in our industry and we feel that access to its business platforms and scale will help us be an even more effective partner to the clients we serve,” said Steve Poniatowski, President of Re:Source New Jersey.

During the transition and integration period, Re:Source NJ and their affiliated brands, PA Flooring and Delaware Flooring Re:Source, will retain their established brand identities while operating as affiliated companies of Consolidated Flooring, ensuring continuity for customers, employees, and industry partners.

The new Pennsylvania and Delaware locations expand Consolidated Flooring’s network of offices across the United States, including New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida.

About Consolidated Flooring

For more than 80 years, Consolidated Flooring has been a trusted commercial flooring contractor for clients across a wide range of industries. The company’s enduring relationships—with national accounts, manufacturers, general contractors, architects, and facility owners—underscore its reputation for quality, consistency, and dependability.

By anticipating client needs and executing with precision, Consolidated Flooring continues to expand its national presence and uphold the highest standards of the commercial flooring trade.

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