LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA -- Fuse Alliance, a member-owned organization of professional, commercial flooring contractors, recently announced the recipients of the network's Member and Supplier Awards, which were recognized at the organization's 2017 annual conference. Fuse Alliance also announced the winners of its inaugural Spark Awards, presented to network members only. With a record attendance of nearly 275 attendees from the U.S. and Canada, the Fuse Alliance annual conference was held in Austin, TX, and focused on connecting the architecture and design community with the network’s flooring experts.
"There is nothing more inspiring than connecting face-to-face with industry peers and recognizing the talent and expertise in our industry," said Geoff Gordon, executive director for Fuse Alliance. "In addition to honoring our members and suppliers, we were thrilled to recognize our members for extraordinary project installations through our Spark Awards, which is the first of its kind for our network and generated a large number of entries."
Member Awards
Fuse Alliance network members were recognized for excellence in "Communication," "Reporting and Follow Up," "Loyalty," "Sustainability" and "Spirit." Members received awards during a presentation, which was held on Tuesday during the network's annual conference.
Member Awards were presented to seven network businesses. OEC, based in Boise, ID, captured "Excellence in Communication;" Division 9, based in the Seattle area and Christian Brothers, based in the San Diego area, both took home "Excellence in Reporting and Follow-Up;" three network members received "Excellence in Loyalty," which included StarFloors of Dallas, TX, Texan Floor Service of Houston, TX, and Franklin Flooring in Pennsylvania. Source Floors Inc., based in San Diego, CA, was recognized for its contribution to Ecollect™, Fuse Allianc'’s reclamation program. Finally, Resource 4 Floors, based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, received the Spirit Award.
Supplier Awards
Supplier Awards were presented to four of the network's preferred suppliers. Johnsonite received "Best Product," Armstrong Flooring received "Best Service" and Schönox received "Best Support." Ardex Americas captured "Supplier of the Year." Fuse Alliance conducts an annual member survey for the Supplier Awards. The results are tallied and presented at the organization's annual conference.
Spark Awards
A new program offered to network members only, the Spark Awards celebrate excellence in project design installed by its network members and is centered on flooring. Based on originality, quality of installation and design innovation, the awards represent outstanding craftsmanship, skill and expertise in the flooring industry.
The awards were judged by an outside panel of notable leaders in the design and flooring industry -- Lendlease executive vice president of project management & construction, David MacDonald; leading technical flooring expert, Lew Migliore, founder of LGM and Associates; and Susanne Molina, FIIDA, CID, LEED AP, principal of the Los Angeles-based interior design firm, One Design Collective.
Butler Flooring Services, based in Louisville, KY, captured three Spark Awards, including "Best Branded Environment" and "Best in Show" for Turf Club & Stakes Tavern Renovation at Kentucky Derby and Most Maximized Budget for Frazier Rehab 8th Floor Renovation.
Commercial Interior Resources (CIR), based in Orange County, CA, captured the "Greatest Space Challenge" for a theater renovation project (project unnamed). Floorz, based in Denver, CO, captured two Spark Awards, including "The Most Aggressive Timeline/Schedule" for Halcyon Hotel and the "Best Flooring Solution" for the Westin Hotel at Denver International Airport. Signature Commercial Floor Covering received the "Toughest Site Conditions" for the LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal Renovation.
