Meet the Columnists

Christopher Capobianco is a fourth generation floor covering specialist with over 26 years in the flooring business. His background includes work as a retailer, architectural sales representative, technical support manager, writer, educator and activist. He is active in a number of industry volunteer organizations, including ASTM Committee F.06 on Resilient Flooring, the Long Island Floor Covering Association, FCICA and IICRC. He works in his family's retail flooring business, Fred's Carpet of East Northport, Long Island, and has his own consulting business, Flooring Answers. You can reach him at cappy59@optonline.net.

David M Gobis CTC CSI, a third generation tile setter, is the executive director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation. He has been in the trade for over 30 years and owned a successful contracting business for many years prior to his current position. Gobis is an author of many trade-related articles and a frequent speaker at industry events. He is a member of the Construction Specification Institute, National Tile Contractors Technical Committee, and a voting member of the American National Standards for Ceramic Tile Installation and Setting Materials (ANSI A108/118) and Tile Council of America Installation Handbook committees. He can be reached at (864) 222-2131 or dave@tileschool.org

Reggie Hill, founder of Wilmington, DE-based Floor Covering Services & Consultants, has nearly 20 years of experience in the retail floor covering industry, an in-depth knowledge of various floor covering materials and a specialized expertise in laminate products. Formerly Mannington Mills manager of installation services, Reggie is a certified instructor for the Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s Teach the Teacher program, and a member of the International Academy of Floorcovering Inspectors review board.

Ray Thompson Jr., author of Focus on Resilient, is a renowned installation expert and president of the Ray Thompson Floorcovering Institute in Cle Elum, WA. A veteran of the flooring industry for more than 35 years, Ray conducts resilient, carpet and hardwood training programs for installers, retailers, distributors, and industry associations. He also serves as a consultant and runs his own inspection service.

Sam Allman, author of The Art of Retail Management, is founder and president of Acworth, GA-based Allman & Associates and the dean of Mohawk University. A consultant, speaker, and trainer, Sam focuses his consulting efforts on helping organizations develop the tools and techniques they need to achieve their goals, make lasting impressions on customers and improve relationships in the workplace.

Rick Brian is president of R. B. Brian and Associates Inc., a management and marketing consulting company which he founded in 1997. His clients are primarily manufacturers and distributors in the hardwood flooring and building products industries. He is the former president of Robbins Hardwood Flooring, and is a past board member of the NWFA, MFMA and NOFMA. RBBA is headquartered in Southern Pines, N.C.

Annette Callari is a highly regarded interior design expert with over 20 years of residential and commercial design experience. She currently serves as a sales and marketing specialist for Leonard's Services and Design Centers and is responsible for working with sales associates handling the firm's key builder accounts as well as training and developing new marketing materials for the company. She is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers, a contributing member of Color Marketing Group International, and has authored numerous articles on color and design trends. She holds a degree in interior design from Fullerton College in Fullerton, California, and a professional writer's Certificate from California State University at Fullerton.

Dave Stafford is a flooring industry veteran and former executive vice president of Commercial Carpets of America (CCA), a major independent flooring dealer and contractor in northern Virginia. Dave has served as vice chairman of the Floor Covering Contractors Association (FCICA) and is an Honorary Lifetime Member. He provides selective consulting services on business management and government contracts within the industry.