Manchester, N.H.—As a cooperative business, Carpet One Floor & Home is built on the success of its members. During it recent convention, Carpet One Floor & Home recognized outstanding members of the cooperative. The award winners were selected based on their contributions to their fellow Carpet One members and to the cooperative. The cooperative also recognized the valuable partners that help them drive success for their stores.
“I’m new to this cooperative, but I can already see how exceptional our members are,” said John Gilbert, president of Carpet One Floor & Home. “The way they go above and beyond and the way our suppliers support what we do is astonishing.”
Awards were presented in the following categories:
Alan Greenberg AwardThis award recognizes the member who most embodies the Carpet One Floor & Home spirit and who best represents what CCA Global Partners co-founder, Alan Greenberg, stood for. It is based on overall participation in programs, contributions to the cooperative and support of fellow members during the previous year.
This year’s winner, Kurt Zanelotti of Contract Carpet One Floor & Home, Beltsville, Md., joined the cooperative in 2009. He has served the membership as an Advisory Council member, helping steer the direction of Carpet One’s programs and initiatives. Zanelotti is a huge supporter of Carpet One Floor & Home programs and invests in promoting the Carpet One Floor & Home brand.
In his community, Zanelotti has been a passionate supporter of “Believe in Tomorrow” for over 17 years. This charitable organization helps provide housing for critically ill children and their families. He is also a supporter of the arts. He contributes to the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation to provide arts and music to his community.
The list of organizations this member has helped goes on and on. He has also participated in two Building for America’s Bravest home projects. “Kurt is an exceptional example of the integrity our members have,” said Howard Brodsky, co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “I was honored to present this year’s Alan Greenberg Award to him.”
The Wally Hileman AwardThe Wally Hileman Award was created in memory of Wally Hileman, Carpet One Floor & Home’s first vice president of membership who, from 1991 through 1998, brought in many of the great members that have made Carpet One Floor & Home successful. This award recognizes members who have been in Carpet One Floor & Home for no more than two to three years and have shown an outstanding commitment to the cooperative.
Kathy Mercado, this year’s winner, took ownership of King’s Carpet One Floor & Home, Worland, Wyo., in 2017 and has since reshaped the business into a thriving establishment that continues to grow. With no pre-existing experience in the flooring industry, Mercado has taken Carpet One Floor & Home’s programs and dedicated herself to providing a remarkable customer service experience.
Carpet One Cares AwardThe Carpet One Cares Award recognizes a Carpet One Floor & Home member who goes above and beyond in supporting their local community and charitable programs. Brian Norman of Norman Carpet One Floor & Home, Marion, Ill., was selected for his dedication to helping his community, specifically working with troubled youth and adults. He has helped individuals overcome drug addictions and get their lives back on track. This effort is not an easy one, but Norman makes time to show these individuals he cares. Supplier partners of the year
Each year, the Carpet One Floor & Home members vote on the Supplier Partner of the Year and Specialty Supplier Partner of the Year. These awards recognize the organizations that have made the greatest commitment and most significant impact on the membership over the past year.
For the tenth year in a row, Shaw Industries is the recipient of the Supplier Partner of the Year Award. The supplier was selected for its dedication to supporting some of Carpet One Floor & Home’s most popular product lines. Shaw Industries’ excellence in executing exclusive programs and innovation in creating high-quality products has made it a trusted partner of the membership. Carpet One Floor & Home members are appreciative of the high level of service they continue to receive from Shaw.
Receiving the Specialty Supplier Partner of the Yearaward for the first time, Happy Floors was chosen by the Carpet One Floor & Home membership as the specialty supplier that goes above and beyond in providing quality products and service. Happy Floors is a leading importer and distributer of porcelain tile from Italy and Spain. Members are excited to work with Happy Floors to provide beautiful products to their customers.
Eileen Shapiro AwardThe Eileen Shapiro Award is given to the Carpet One Floor & Home staff member who has gone above and beyond for the Carpet One membership and shows outstanding commitment to the cooperative. Previously known as the VIP Award, it was renamed the Eileen Shapiro Award after then vice president of membership Eileen Shapiro won the award for many years. For the second year in a row, Frank Santaniello was selected for this award, which is voted on by Carpet One members. Santaniello, the current vice president of membership, leads Carpet One Floor & Home’s member services team. He is the driving force behind Carpet One’s Nex<40 Council and has shown endless dedication to the membership. He strives every day to help the Carpet One Floor & Home membership improve their businesses and take advantage of all that Carpet One has to offer.