Fired Up Success with Lisbeth Calandrino

Andrea joined the Floor Covering Industry Foundation in 2016 as Executive Director and oversees grant programs, donor engagement, fund development, strategic marketing, and board relations.

Previously, she had a 12-year career at United Way of Northwest Georgia where she expanded the organization's capacity by developing new philanthropic programs and volunteer initiatives. As the Director of Donor Engagement & Strategy, she headed up strategic marketing, donor relations, and leadership of marketing and fundraising staff and volunteers. She led the organization to reach $4M in annual contributions through payroll campaigns, major gifts, and corporate investments. In addition, her roles have included writing and implementing marketing plans, speech writing, donor database management, and design of printed, electronic, and social media, and corporate event planning. She has led sessions at United Way and Points of Light national conferences, as well as spoke to numerous local school groups about careers in non-profit organizations.

She previously served as the Director of Community Engagement at United Way and oversaw organizational marketing, donor affinity groups, and volunteerism. She launched a full service Volunteer Center with hands on projects and an online platform for non-profits to post volunteer opportunities with which the public could connect. In 2012, she led the creation of the Women’s Leadership Council, which raises over $1M annually through leadership gifts of $1,000 or more. She coordinated large community days of service – mobilizing over 1,000 volunteers annually through corporate volunteer projects, national service holidays, and school projects. She led the formation of the Corporate Volunteer Council, created Volunteer Vacation – a youth service camp, and launched the partnership with Presidential Volunteer Service Award program. She also brought BOARDWALK to the greater Dalton community – a program that has trained over 250 volunteers to serve on non-profit boards of directors. In 2008, she wrote and administered a federal grant that placed over 150 AmeriCorps VISTA members in the local community over the next eight years who expanded the capacity of non-profits to recruit and train volunteers. As the New Business Development Coordinator she launched the Young Leadership Society in 2006, a giving circle for young professionals, which she led for the next 10 years. In her her first role at United Way, she served as a Loaned Executive, giving over 250 fundraising presentations to companies across the community.

Amy Amaroso is Director of VBOC, Veteran Business Outreach, a  program which  assists  veterans and military spouses to start, purchase or grow a business.  Within the United States, there are 22 VBOC programs, which work for the S.B.A. 

For more information, reach Amy at VBOCregion2.com. 

Smith Flooring is a woman and minority-owned business in Chester, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Kristin discusses the challenges of doing business during the pandemic and how her strong union relationships helped her business to survive and thrive during the shutdown.

President Joe Biden recently met with the Smiths to discuss how the relief package, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helped millions of Americans and family-owned commercial flooring contractors maintain operations. (to read the entire article, see Floor Covering News, Biden Kicks Off Help is Here Tour)

“Smith Flooring strives to lead the commercial flooring industry in the Delaware Valley. Since day one, Kristin Smith and James Smith have focused on three promises: Completing work on-time, on-budget, and with the highest professional quality. By consistently delivering results, we’ve earned the trust of many loyal, longtime customers who know they can count on us for superior service. Smith Flooring is also a company of integrity and is a certified MBE, DBE, WBE, and WBENC Women-Owned Business. We regularly invest in our facilities and equipment to expand production capabilities and improve quality, and ensure all employees are well-trained and certified at a high level of craftsmanship.”

I encourage you to check out their website at: http://www.smithflooringinc.com/

Brett Miller, has a long history in the flooring business specializing in wood flooring. His history includes both retail and wholesale before transitioning to the National Wood Flooring Association. I have been on several committees with him over the years; he is extremely knowledgeable about wood flooring and is a great resource. 

Brett is happy to take questions, here is his direct phone, 314-607-2237, Central Time Zone. 

Chris talks about business, getting organized and marketing to your customers. She is the Director of Marketing for Q-Floors. Chris majored in  marketing and college as has spent  20 years in the marketing field.  Chris talks about their software system and what customers and  can simply do to market their business. She also talks about being a woman in the flooring business and the changes she has seen. 

QFloors is a user friendly flooring software designed to streamline operations for small, mid-size, and large carpet and flooring stores.  Chris can be reached at 801-563-.0140. 

Julie Kerkochian is the owner of United Carpet One in Fresno, CA. United Carpet is a family business that's been in existence for 50 years. Julie decided she would develop a women's group comprised of business owners from Carpet One. The group has 29 members. Julie talks about the group and her commitment to the flooring industry. 

Barry McEntire, is CEO/Owner of Flooring Depot of Panama City, Florida. Barry has decided to open a new store in the midst of the pandemic. Listen to his ideas and strategies. 

Denee Bruce is the Senior National account Manager for HandiProducts is your full-service solution for anti-slip products.  Listen to her story about finally getting her wings. 

"It's crazy to look back on the past 3 years. I bought a bike because I was so tired of not riding. I'd never been on my own. I got a 2009 with 3000 miles. I wouldn't go more than 20-30 miles away and would have to stop and check where i was because i didn't have GPS or a phone mount. In 2 years I put 500 miles on her and rarely did over 50 mph. This year I have put 4500 miles on the tires, rode the interstate for the first time, went to Sturgis and back alone, learned to fix her on the side of the road, rode over 500 miles just to get a hamburger, and jump at the chance to hit winding roads that lead who knows where.

It took 43 years but I'm finally finding my wings!"

Bryan Nunziato discusses the future of fitness and his ideas for for fitness in the future. Reach out to Bryan at [email protected] or gotosnergyfitness.com. 

After 4 years of learning the flooring installation trade, in 1976, Roland Thompson decided to set out on his own as a residential and commercial installer. Roland's craftsmanship, hard work  and outstanding  service won him contracts for the Camp David Presidential Retreat under five United States's Presidents.  His talent and customer service focus  has earned him hundreds of certifications and friends in the flooring industry and organizations such as ABC Extreme Makeover and the food network's Restaurant Impossible.

He continues to volunteer his time and expertise to organizations such as Building for America's Bravest. Building for America's Bravest is a program of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation that builds Smart Homes for our most catastrophically injured service members returning home.