The 2024 National Installer of the Year Las Vegas Competitors Announced

After four regional competitions across the United States, The International Surface Event (TISE): SURFACES | StonExpo | TileExpo and the International Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) are excited to announce and congratulate the eight regional finalists who have qualified to the National Competition in Las Vegas. Plan to join them and watch the competition live at TISE 2024 in Las Vegas, January 24 – 26. Register at www.intlsurfaceevent.com/register for tickets now. Plus, make sure you pick up a limited-edition National Competitor Trading Card while supplies last at the competition area and plan to attend the awards ceremony on Friday, January 26 in the exhibit hall!

The regionals had outstanding talent with many of the winners within fractions of measurements of each other and some coming to a tiebreaker based on test scores. Congratulations to everyone who competed this year, and an extra congratulations as we announce these eight regional winners who are now competing in the Nationals. Each will receive a trip to Las Vegas to TISE 2024, a plaque, and an additional $200 prize. Plus, the 2024 National Installer of the Year winners in Las Vegas for each category will receive a championship heavyweight belt, a $2,500 grand prize, and the priceless opportunity to call themselves the National Installer of the Year!

2024 National Competition Finalists

• Indiana: Diego Alviso (Carpet) and Crystal Marie Sims (LVP)
• California: Hugo Gutierrez (Carpet) and Hasan Basic (LVP)
• Texas: Zachary Stacy (Carpet) and Roy Lewis (LVP)
• Maryland: James Ghanim (Carpet) and Edward Mark Kinzer (LVP)

The National Installer of the Year competition would not be possible without these generous partnerships. The International Surface Event thanks these supporting competition sponsors who not only provide the materials for the competitors to compete with, but who help to under-write the competition to ensure we can reach as far into the US to allow installers to compete.

Mohawk Flooring is the premiere sponsor of the competition, as well as the exclusive carpet and resilient product sponsor. Plan to join the Mohawk installation happy hour on the show floor at 3pm, January 25 to celebrate with fellow installers and the competitors. The Mohawk brand, Performance Accessories, provided product to highlight new installation methods in resilient installation. Taylor Adhesives is the exclusive adhesives competition sponsor. QEP / Roberts Consolidated Industries, Inc. is the exclusive tool sponsor for the overall competition, as well as the exclusive lunch sponsor for all the regional competitions and for the upcoming National Competition.

The International Surface Event would also like to share information about the competition partners and host locations who have generously donated space and staff to assist in the overall logistics of the program. These crucial groups assist in facilitating and promoting the competition:  the International Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) who co-produces the event with The International Surface Event; C&C Wholesale, Fishman Flooring Solutions, Diamond W, and Carpet Cushion and Supplies for being host locations; and ProInstaller Magazine and FLOOR Trends & Installation for the media support of the program.

 ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SURFACE EVENT

The International Surface Event (TISE): SURFACES | StonExpo | TileExpo has served over 30 years as an industry marketplace for floor covering, stone, and tile businesses to come together, seek products and services, build relationships, and develop their businesses. For more information, please visit www.intlsurfaceevent.com. To view the sponsors of TISE, visit the industry association page on the event website.

The International Surface Event’s Beyond the Surface Programs are geared to connect the disconnected, reach deeper into the industry, and celebrate sustainability. To discover all the initiatives the TISE team and partners implement annually, visit the Beyond the Surface pages on the event website. The National Installer of the Year competition is part of this programming providing opportunity across the country for installers to compete while highlighting installation in the industry, a career segment in crisis in the surface industry.