Chicago—As day two of NeoCon opened here, Women in the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) held breakfast in the Mannington Commercial booth.
Highlights of this event included WIFI board member Whitney Legate, senior vice president of commercial product at Mannington Mills, sharing about WIFI’s free mentoring program and monthly Power Hours, as well as the announcement of its 2025 scholarship program winners.
The WIFI scholarship program awarded $30,000 in educational funds to 16 women pursuing college degrees, trade school, technical education and other opportunities for career development in the flooring industry. This investment in the industry’s future is made possible through the generosity of WIFI’s donors.
The 2025 scholarship recipients are:
- Sara Antonio, project manager, GP Flooring Solutions, N.Y.:
Antonio was awarded $1,000 to pursue Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through eCornell. - Rebecca Bell, marketing project manager, Louisville Tile Distributors, Ky.:
Bell was awarded $1,000 to pursue Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the University of Louisville. - Ananda Botello, president, Lektraflor and FlorTech, Fla.:
Botello was awarded $1,000 to attend Florida Atlantic University’s Leadership boot camp, focusing on people management. - Deidre Eues, general manager, La Mesa Flooring Co., Calif.:
Eues was awarded $1,000 to pursue carpet and hard surface certification through Certified Flooring Installers (CFI). - Misty Foster, design technician, Shaw Industries, Ga.:
Foster was awarded $4,500 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management at Georgia Highlands College. - Corinne Gilbert, assistant manager, Gilbert’s Carpets Plus ColorTile, Mich.:
Gilbert was awarded $645 to complete the Michigan Contractor Training’s 60-hour pre-license course. - Julie Grajeda, head of product and sustainability, Arto, Calif.:
Grajeda was awarded $1,000 to pursue both LEED and WELL AP certifications through the U.S. Green Building Council. - Alexandra Hutchinson, manager of academic services and design, The Carpet Guys, Mich.:
Hutchinson was awarded $1,000 to pursue the Certified Professional credential through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). - Ashley Luna, student, Calif.:
Luna was awarded $3,680 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration at San Diego State University and hopes to return to her family flooring business post-graduation. - April Manley, project manager, Professional Diversified Flooring, Calif.:
Manley was awarded $1,000 to pursue the Project Management Institute certification through the University of California. - Lu Mauldin, senior product manager, HMTX Industries, Ga.:
Lu was awarded $299 to pursue the SEAL leadership development certification through the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA). - Anna McCortney, operations manager, Ultimate Flooring, Ohio:
McCortney was awarded $999 to pursue an interior design certificate through the Interior Design Institute. - Kristy Panos, director of human resources, Louisville Tile Distributors, Ind.:
Panos was awarded $327 to enroll in the people analytics course from the Society of Human Resource Management. - Jasmina Posada, marketing manager, Shaw Industries, Ga.:
Posada was awarded $4,500 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in marketing at Dalton State College. - Laura Spicer, controller, Cincinnati Mosaic Inc., Ohio:
Spicer was awarded $4,500 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Franklin University. - Sophia Williams, sales intern, Shaw Industries, Calif.:
Williams was awarded $4,500 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies at San Diego State University.
Potential donors can support the next generation of flooring leaders by joining the Friends of WIFI donor circle. Individuals can become members for $15 a month, while corporate recognition levels begin at $1,500 annually. Donations are said to help fund scholarships, create educational opportunities and attract women to careers in the flooring industry.