Nine installers tested their skills in the first regional competition of The International Surface Event (TISE) National Installer of the Year contest, hosted at Fishman Flooring Solutions’ Beltsville, Md., warehouse. James Ghanim of JRZ Carpet & Flooring, Flemington, N.J., won in the carpet category. Edward M. Kinzer of Kinzer’s Floors in Greencastle, Pa., won in the luxury vinyl plank category. Both finalists will now be among those competing at the Nationals during TISE in Las Vegas next year.
Other competitors in the carpet category were: Thomas J. Crandley Jr. of Floorscapes by Thomas, Villas, N.J.; George E. Johnson III of G-3 Carpet Service, Alexandria, Va.; Jose Juarez of Global Flooring, Hickory, N.C.; Joel Justice of Room Flippers LLC, Millsboro, Del.; and Kenneth Pierson Jr. of Carpet Castle Inc., Toms River, N.J.
Other luxury vinyl plank competitors were: Raul Aguero, Speedy Floors, New York, N.Y.; and William David Wilkes, Room Flippers LLC, Salisbury, Md.
According to organizers, installers selected to compete at the regionals will receive $200 each. Regional finalists in each category will receive a trip to Las Vegas for TISE 2024, a plaque and an additional $200. The National Installer of the Year category winners will receive bragging rights, a crystal trophy and a $2,500 grand prize.
The next regionals are scheduled for Aug. 11-12 at Diamond W in Hayward, Calif.; Sept. 8-9 at Carpet Cushion and Supplies in Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Oct. 6-7 at C&C Wholesale in Dallas.
TISE 2024 is scheduled for Jan. 23-26, 2024, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
For more information and to view previous winners of the National Installer of the Year competition, visit https://www.intlsurfaceevent.com/en/industry/awards/national-installer-of-the-year.html.
