Hardwood Floors December 2018/January 2019

16. Tony Horsman

Vice President/Co-Owner Creative Hardwood Floors ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA creativehf.com

17. Stephen King Owner

After just five years in the industry, Tony became Co-Owner of Creative Hardwood Floors in 2005. Tony wears many hats in the business, fromwriting estimates to closing sales to installing flooring. Tony has developed and maintained strong personal relationships

Sap Hardwood Flooring CHAPIN, SOUTH CAROLINA @sapwoodworking

with contractors, distributors, and other industry professionals, which he credits for his personal and business growth, and his knowledge of the industry. He has also grown the company’s media presence by posting on Instagram and Facebook. “His commitment to his crew and customers is what drives the business to be successful,” shared his nominator. “Tony is very passionate about the industry and is always willing to try something different. He's not afraid to ask others for help and is always willing to help others out.” Tony was selected to participate in the Lägler Fly & Sand trip in September 2018. Creative Hardwood Floors is a member of the Rochester Area Builders, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and Rochester Remodelers Council. They also sponsor local youth baseball and football teams.

The only thing Stephen is more passionate about than wood flooring is sharing that passion with others. That’s why he and Jorge Borer started a weekly forum called “Floor Talk” on Instagram in 2017. Today, Stephen has 19.4 thousand followers on Instagramwhere he hosts positive, educational discussions every week on Floor Talk with questions and input from other flooring professionals about equipment selection, customer education, floor maintenance, staffing, and management. King, who has been doing floors for 13 years, has spoken at two NWFAWood Flooring Expos about leveraging the potential of social media to develop an online presence and grow your business. He also promotes the industry among young people, shedding a positive light on the trade and encouraging young people to consider wood flooring as a career. He has spoken at high schools about opportunities in the flooring industry and visited trade schools to demonstrate installation, sanding, and finishing techniques. Active in his community, Stephen has made cutting boards from salvaged hardwood floors for local fundraisers and custom tree prints for raffles.

18. Jim Kramer Owner Delaware Valley Hardwoods WILMINGTON, DELAWARE delawarevalleyhardwoods.com

A third-generation flooring professional, Jim is certified by Bona, Lägler, Basic Coatings, and NWFA. He has been in the hardwood floor trade since he was a teenager working with his dad. Nineteen of his 24 years of flooring experience are as an Owner/Operator of his own company. Since starting as a one-man shop in 1999, Delaware Valley Hardwoods has grown to become one of the most reputable hardwood flooring companies in the area. Jimwrites for several trade magazines and forums, offering advice and technical training for other flooring professionals. He also field tests new products for several manufacturers who trust him to provide informed, candid feedback and demonstrate both old and new techniques. Jim coaches Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, and sponsors a youth BMX team and a youth Quarter Midget Race (car) team. He also helps train young men and women in the flooring trade at local technical high schools and skill centers.

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