NEXT GEN 2019 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ERNESTO ALVARENGA Carpet One Floor & Home of Central Florida Celebration, FL TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I’m an owner, my duties pretty much run from supervising to all the background work behind the scenes. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? This is hard to say because I don’t persay admire one person but I take qualities from everyone I meet. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. Alright WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Pharmacy Tech WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? Tell me who you hang with and I’ll tell you who you are. NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MATT ANDREWS Allwein Carpet One Floor & Home Annville, PA TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. It starts with getting the installers outfitted and moving in the morning. Then my days vary. I handle our commercial jobs, both main street and bid work. So depending on the day, working on plans, measuring, meeting with clients, reps, etc. Just recently I also took on the measuring and installation of the Hunter Douglas blinds. Other than that, I share the normal duties of an owner with my wife Lauren. Building maintenance, overseeing scheduling, sales, warehouse, etc. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? My Dad. For starters he is genuine. He’s the same guy all the time. He is generous. He constantly gives of his time and resources. That generosity stems from his faith and his big heart. He is a born leader and very creative. He never had the opportunity to go to college and was always told that he should work for someone else. After 20 years in a printing operation, he had the courage to become the manager of a local business. He has grown that one time flailing business to be super profitable. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. Burning Man ~Dierks Bentley WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Maintenance Guy at Amish Farm and House WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? I have several: (1) Do unto other what you would have them do to you. (2) Where there’s a will there’s a way. (3) If you don’t have time to do it right, you’ll never have time to do it again. (4) Don’t Settle. NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT KELLIE BALLEW Shaw Industries Dalton, GA Director of Sustainability TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. As Director of Sustainability I am focused on our commercial business, leveraging market insights and technical expertise to inform, influence and support business decisions re: sustainability. I work with our brand marketing teams to craft compelling content in support of our strategy and conduct external engagement with clients. I manage a team of technical product stewards that have responsibility for obtaining and maintaining our voluntary ecolabels and product certifications. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? I admire an entire category of people in our history (that happen to be women) who were doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, inventors, etc. whose contributions and work was credited to the men they worked with or were married to. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. The Story ~Brandi Carlile WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Technically, my first tax-deducting job was when I was 14 and working at Chick-fil-A on a school work permit. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you will be criticized anyway. ~Eleanor Roosevelt NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT RYAN BEERS Orillia’s Fashion Floor Centre Carpet One Orillia, ON TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I am the General Manager for our family owned store. I work with our staff on a day to day basis and also help with sales when needed. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? I have two friends of the family who are brothers. Both have been positive influences on my life since my teens. They have both been in the flooring industry at some point in there lives. There incredibly trustworthy, down to earth and light at heart. I can go to them with anything. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. Loud Fast Drums WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Golf Course Maintenance WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? The glass is always half full. NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT BEN BOSS Boss Carpet One Floor & Home Dixon, IL TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I try to stay focused on business strategy and planning but often wear the hat of every position in the company. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? My wife, Amy, because of her positive outlook on life. She is my sounding board for difficult decisions to be made in the business. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. “Get Up Stand Up: Don’t Give Up the Fight ~Bob Marley WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Working in a Flooring Store WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty. ~Zig Ziglar NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MAURO BRIA Shaw Industries Philadelphia, PA Territory Manager Hard Surface TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I’m the face of Shaw Industries to my customers. I’m not just a sales rep, but a business partner. My goal is to help my dealer grow their business and make Shaw their preferred brand. I meet regularly with dealers to: discuss their business goals and offer solutions, set up displays and provide sales training to their teams, and give advice on products and applications. Behind the scenes I’m: expediting orders, improving production dates, processing claims, and standing behind our Product! WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? I’m a fan of history. I always admired Abraham Lincoln and the principled leader that he was during a controversial time in American history. During his time, he was considered an unfavorable president because of his views of ending slavery. He was dealing with a country divided, and even through a civil war, he did not give into the pressure of politics and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. He stood up for what was right, even in the most challenging of circumstances. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. Can’t Stop the Feeling ~Justin Timberlake WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Concrete Foundation Construction Worker WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ~Albert Einstein NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT BLAKE BURKE Riverside Carpet One Floor & Home Columbus, IN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I am responsible for the business operations for our two retail and flooring locations. I develop and equip our sales staff to provide excellent customer service to our clients. I also make sure installers have all the tools and knowledge to provide a quality installation. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? My father-in-law, he was a successful business owner while being extremely generous with everything. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. Small Town ~John Mellencamp WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Cart Boy WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? A good leader makes you better at your job, a great leader makes you better at life. NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT BRUCE CONLON Shaw Industries Dalton, GA Vice President National Accounts TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I manage and am responsible for the business relationship with CCA Global. This involves working with them corporately on all products and programs. In addition we work individually with the Dealers/members on any questions/opportunities/problems etc. Furthermore we work with the Shaw Salesforce providing the product and program information needed to help them understand and drive the CCA Global businesses. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? Mark Richt, former Head Football Coach at the University of Georgia. Coach Richt has made it his made it his responsibility to not only mold his players to be great athletes, but to give them the skills to be contributors to society, to family and to be strong role models for future generations. TELL US WHAT YOUR THEME SONG WOULD BE. We Will Rock You ~Queen WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? I bought a paper route at 11 years old. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO OR WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE? Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step: only he who keeps his eyes fixed on the far horizon will find the right road. ~Dag Hammarskjold NEXT GEN 2019LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ANNIE COWART Shaw Industries Dalton, GA Director Client Contact Center TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. I lead the Shaw’s Business Development Team, Contact Center, and Customer Service Enablement teams.I engage with Business leaders to ensure that we are meeting or exceeding the needs of our dealers, sales team, and consumers to drive loyalty. We strategically focus on continuously building strong relationships and measuring the results of the impact we are making whether it be through outbound selling and education or through inbound service. WHO IS SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? I have admired my High School Leadership teacher, Susan Ireland, from the moment we met in 9th grade.