Future-Proofing Your Business in a Changing Industry

Thank You Corey Smith

As the Starnet Spring Meeting approaches, Corey Smith, owner of DMA Floors, shares his insights on the crucial topic of future-proofing businesses in the construction industry. With decades of experience, Corey emphasizes that the rapid evolution of construction demands more than just hard work and experience; it requires innovative strategies and tools to stay ahead. He highlights the importance of staying organized amid the chaos of multiple bids, documents, and project tasks, stressing that a centralized system is essential to avoid costly mistakes and improve efficiency.

Corey discusses the long-term aspect of future-proofing, focusing on the aging workforce in the industry. He points out that the valuable knowledge accumulated by experienced professionals will retire with them unless systems are implemented to capture and transfer this expertise. JENGAI’s AI Analyzer plays a pivotal role in structuring industry intelligence for the next generation. Additionally, Corey underscores the importance of visibility into the sales pipeline and the necessity of a strong CRM system to track potential work and ensure timely follow-ups, especially for salespeople on the road.

The article delves into the daily struggles faced by subcontractors, such as the challenge of estimating and the risk of missing critical details in documents. Corey shares a personal experience where a costly mistake was made due to missing a detail in the plans. He explains how JENGAI’s AI Analyzer could have prevented this error, proving the platform’s value in catching potential misses and saving time and money. The shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive management is highlighted, with JENGAI providing a centralized system that enhances efficiency and accessibility for the team.

Corey acknowledges the difficulty of introducing new systems but emphasizes the necessity of change to build a smarter business. He describes the transformation at DMA Floors, where JENGAI has improved follow-ups, provided visibility into the sales pipeline, and streamlined the estimating process. The AI Analyzer has become a core part of their operations, helping to identify key details in plans and reduce costly errors. Corey’s experience demonstrates the significant benefits of embracing technology and AI-driven solutions.

Looking ahead, Corey sees more opportunities to refine workflows and improve efficiency. He appreciates working with a team committed to making a difference in the industry, noting that JENGAI continuously updates its platform to address real challenges. Corey believes that leveraging technology to streamline pricing, scheduling, and workflows will not only keep businesses up with industry changes but set the pace. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of evolving to succeed in the next decade, urging industry professionals to embrace new strategies and technology to future-proof their businesses.

The 2025 Starnet Floor Care Convention!

Daltile, J + J, Milliken, Mohawk, and Tarkett supported the Starnet Floor Care convention in Nashville last week.

The 14th annual Starnet Floor Care Convention brought together several of the best minds in the maintenance business to strategize growth and partnership opportunities and align on the proper procedures for maintaining the Starnet Vendor Partners’ products.

A highlight from the event included a vendor panel consisting of Tarkett, Mohawk, Milliken, J + J, and Daltile technical experts. This panel of experts discussed standards, pitfalls, and real life solutions for the end use client.

Starnet manufacturer partners, floor care vendors, and Starnet contractors share the common goal of delighting the end-use client through maintenance to drive repeat flooring sales for the manufacturers and Starnet members. Growing product and installation revenue is the top priority for both the Starnet Vendor Partners and the Starnet flooring contractor. Floor care is an important piece for gaining and retaining customers to ultimately grow product revenue.

We thank Starnet Floor Care vendors XL North, Foaming Floors, Neverstrip, and TEC for their support of the floor care business and the excellent products and service they bring to the industry.

Please put on your radar to attend Starnet Floor Care Convention 2026 next February, it is a high energy event with the industry’s finest!

Who are the Top 10 BEST Distributors from 2024?

Every year, Starnet’s mandatory Preferred Vendor Survey uncovers the secrets behind member satisfaction with our vendor partners. The results are in, and once again, Starnet members are thrilled with their interactions, especially with those who master the art of distribution channel management. Our members rave about the flawless movement of products from manufacturing plants to local regions and the exceptional support from distributors, including sales and marketing resources, logistics, training, and more.

Understanding the vital role of distribution in our members’ success, Starnet conducted an in-depth survey to dive into the dynamics of the distribution channel. This survey evaluated the overall value of the distribution channel, pinpointed key qualities distributors should focus on to win business, and spotlighted the top-performing distributors.

133 Starnet members shared their experiences with 76 distributors across the United States and Canada. Distributors were rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing excellence. The overall results revealed an average rating of 3.51.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! We proudly present the top 10 performing distributors, along with their stellar ratings!

Rank	Distributor	Rating
1	T & A Supply	4.31
2	Daltile	4.27
3	L. Fishman & Son	4.23
4	Tri-West	4.12
5	Professional Flooring Supply	4.00
6	C&C Wholesale Distributors	3.94
7	Tom Duffy/BR Funsten	3.93
8	Michael Halebian & Co. Inc.	3.92
8	Hank’s Specialties	3.92
10	Virginia Tile	3.89

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to excellence.

2025 Floor Focus Starnet Emerging Leaders ANNOUNCED

The Emerging Leaders Award, hosted by Floor Focus, offers the opportunity for industry businesses to acknowledge the up-and-coming in their organizations. The outstanding professionals are celebrated in Floor Focus Magazine and at the International Surface Event -TISE. The 2025 winners, all under the age of 40, are a sampling of the industry’s best and brightest, those that will push the industry forward through innovation and thoughtful leadership. We would like to recognize the outstanding young stars within the Starnet network. Congratulations to the Starnet winners listed below!

Gunnar Pennington, Jack Laurie Group – Senior Field Superintendent

Jordan Anderson, Great Floors Silverdale – Branch Manager

Andrew Conklin, M. Frank Higgins & Co. – Project Manager

Heather Nicholas, ACS Flooring Group – Director of Business Development

Kaytlin Greenley: NEW Director of Member Training and Development

Starnet has gained a major asset on staff. We are pleased to welcome our new Director of Member Training and Development…Kaytlin Greenley! This role is pivotal for Starnet’s growth and all of our world-class members and vendors. She will help improve Starnet University, increase member training, and revolutionize the professional development resources within the commercial interior market. She has already hit the ground running with several new insights and projects for growth. She is a perfect fit for the job with a wide range of expertise from her background.

Kaytlin joins us after an impressive seven-year tenure at Mohawk Group, where she began her career as a Brand Marketing Specialist. Over the years, she expanded her responsibility, transitioning into the role of Event Manager. In both roles, Kaytlin honed her leadership abilities, built strong industry relationships, and developed a keen analytical mindset. Prior to Mohawk Group, she had more than 12 years of experience in Marketing and Business Development at Coosa Valley Credit Union, solidifying her depth of expertise.

With her extensive background and passion for advancing the industry, Kaytlin is a great addition to the Starnet team. She is eager to help our members and vendor partners grow their businesses and achieve their goals. We are confident that her leadership and vision will make a lasting impact on Starnet and the broader commercial interiors community.

Workscapes Commercial Flooring Division Joins Starnet

Tampa, FL – Workscapes Commercial Flooring Division is proud to announce its official membership in the Starnet Commercial Flooring Partnership, effective November 1, 2024. This strategic alliance marks a significant milestone in Workscapes’ commitment to excellence and growth in the commercial flooring industry.

Workscapes, a 26-year-old distribution company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, has a rich history of serving the Corporate, Healthcare, Government, and Higher Education sectors. With four offices across Florida and a dedicated team of 150 employees, Workscapes has expanded its offerings to include a furniture division, an interior construction division, and a commercial flooring division.

The flooring division, launched in 2020, was founded with the purpose of “doing good work.” Richard “Dick” Dvorak, co-owner of Workscapes, shared his journey:

“We originally started in the Contract Furniture Industry focused in Corporate, Healthcare, Government, and Higher Education and now we have a furniture division, interior construction division, and a commercial flooring division. The flooring division was launched in 2020 with the purpose of ‘doing good work’. The owner of the company is Elizabeth Dvorak and Richard Dvorak. Richard spent his early part of his career with Armstrong World Industries in the flooring division based in Lancaster PA. Workscapes decided to launch the flooring division when approached by a friend who was selling flooring and said, ‘you are putting all the furniture on the flooring why not provide the flooring as well’. Richard Dvorak was hesitant at first but with the focus on ‘doing good work’ and following our EOS Operating System we are 4 years into the development of what could be our largest division in the company in the future. Today the division has 22 people in it and continues to look for first ‘getting better’ before trying to get bigger. We look forward to becoming a member of Starnet and finding ways to add value to the group and benefit from the years of experience and success together.”

In addition to this exciting partnership, Workscapes is pleased to announce the recent appointments of George Martinez as Vice President of Sales and Michael Franze as Vice President of Operations. These leadership changes reflect Workscapes’ dedication to strengthening its team and enhancing its service offerings.

George Martinez, Vice President of Sales, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership:

“Joining the Starnet Commercial Flooring Partnership is a tremendous opportunity for Workscapes. We are excited to collaborate with industry leaders and leverage the collective expertise to deliver exceptional flooring solutions to our clients. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to ‘doing good work’ and continuous improvement.”

Mark Bischoff, President and CEO of Starnet, welcomed Workscapes to the partnership:

“We are thrilled to welcome Workscapes Commercial Flooring Division to the Starnet family. Their dedication to quality and innovation aligns perfectly with our values. We look forward to a successful collaboration that will bring significant benefits to both Workscapes and the entire Starnet community.”

As a member of Starnet, Workscapes Commercial Flooring Division aims to leverage the collective expertise and resources of the partnership to deliver superior flooring solutions and continue its tradition of excellence. The company looks forward to contributing to and benefiting from the shared knowledge and success of the Starnet community.

For more information, please contact: tanner@starnetflooring.com

Starnet’s New Marketing and Member Service Associate: Tanner McHugh

@starnetcommercialfloor
How does Commercial Flooring Work? #Starnet #starnetflooring #flooring #commercial #commercialflooring #coolfloors #bluecollar #construction #usa #flooringtips #constructionlife
♬ original sound – Starnet Commercial Flooring – Starnet Commercial Flooring

Starnet welcomes Tanner McHugh to the commercial flooring family! He comes from a long background of social media management, content creation, sports marketing, and much more! He is honored to be joining the Starnet Staff and he is excited to hit the ground running. He plans to make an impact with not only the Starnet team but to be involved with Starnet’s Design Awards, Dream Team, and of course, with Starnet’s worldclass Vendors and Members.

Tanner McHugh was also a very accomplished Student Athlete. Wrestling and studying at Baldwin Wallace University where he was a three-time academic All-American, Eight-Time Dean’s List student, and earned his MBA. All of these skills equal to a strong work ethic and determination, so he will be a perfect fit for the commercial flooring community.