Steve and Kathy Cloud on the Growth of M. Frank Higgins

Steve and Kathy Cloud on the Growth of M. Frank Higgins

Mike welcomes Steve and Kathy Cloud of M. Frank Higgins at Pod617 Studios, discussing the company’s origins after WWII, its Boston roots, and the 1952 incorporation of the Connecticut operation launched after work at Westover Air Force Base. Steve describes entering the family business after Notre Dame, becoming president at 27–28 following the deaths of his mother and partner B. Albert Higgins, and how a major Yale–New Haven Hospital tower project helped propel growth. Kathy shares how she and Steve met at Notre Dame, her transition from engineering to geology and a 26-year teaching career before joining the business 15 years ago, later becoming president and driving relationship-based marketing, CEU lunch-and-learns, and industry events. They discuss faith, mentors, union labor, Starnet and NFCA leadership roles, developing the next generation including son Travis, and personal interests like boating, travel, and Steve’s wine cellar.   Find Steve and Kathy at MFHiggins.com [http://mfhiggins.com]   Topics 00:56 Meet Steve and Kathy 02:01 Company Origins and Growth 05:34 Notre Dame Connection 06:29 How They Met 09:15 Kathy Teaching Career 10:45 Steve Takes the Helm 13:08 Kathy Joins the Business 16:14 Next Generation Leadership 18:11 Company Values and Faith 19:22 Hospital Project Partnerships 21:42 Mentors and Life Lessons 24:28 Challenges and Networking 27:22 Show Returns Bigger 28:03 AGC Board Lessons 29:13 Notre Dame Birthday Story 29:46 Boats Travel Grandkids 31:30 Wine Cellar Passion 33:19 Sports Talk Detour 34:50 Women In Flooring 36:47 Starnet NFCA Leadership 39:24 Retirement And Family 41:53 Famous Three Questions 46:14 Closing Thanks And Wrap

Ray Mancini Jr. on Building a Multi-State Flooring Distribution Leader

Mike welcomes Raymond Mancini Jr., CEO of UCX (formerly Belknap White), to discuss UCX’s history as a third-generation family business that began with a Rhode Island liquor distributor (Providence Beverage Company) and entered flooring in 1982 by buying Rifco and focusing on the Armstrong brand. Mancini explains how the company grew through consolidation—acquiring 12 distributors over about 45 years, including JJ Haines in 2019—expanding from New England to 28 states from Maine to Florida and Texas, covering about 70% of the U.S. population. He outlines the UCX rebrand (“Ultimate Customer Experience”), relationship-driven culture, leadership values, and logistics advantage with 140–150 trucks. They also cover Mancini’s education and mentors, hiring from Bryant MBA classmates, industry trends (consolidation, succession, private equity/ESOPs), and future impacts of AI.   Contact Ray at  rmancini@ucx.com.    Topics 01:27 UCX Origins and Family Legacy 02:19 From Liquor to Flooring Distribution 04:23 Armstrong Focus and Early Territory 05:25 Acquisitions and East Coast Expansion 07:18 Rebrand to UCX and Customer Experience 08:56 Leadership Journey and Mentors 12:20 Cranston Roots and Pop Culture Detour 14:00 Hiring Talent and Building the Team 16:04 Logistics Advantage and Company Culture 20:58 Customer Success Mindset 21:11 Real Housewives Rhode Island 21:36 Rhode Island Favorites 22:35 Family and Empty Nest 23:33 Fourth Generation Plans 24:25 Acquisition Playbook 27:09 Industry Future Trends 30:05 AI and Relationships 32:07 Adapting Like Music 33:16 Three Fun Questions 37:26 Wrap Up and Contact

Jared Colombo of JC Floors: Family Business Growth, Union Work & Change Orders

Mike interviews Jared Colombo of JC Floors, a family business founded by his father in 1989 after inheriting accounts from Somerville Floors, then expanding from East Boston to Wilmington and now Billerica, with 15–20 office staff and 30–60 union installers. He explains the roles of his parents and siblings, and highlights longtime project manager Ed Higgins. Jared outlines JC’s focus on tenant fit-outs in downtown Boston and notes post-COVID office trends toward enhanced amenities and likely office-to-apartment conversions. He shares personal background (Peabody, BU, Westford), early work hustles, and starting in the warehouse before moving into estimating and buyouts. Industry topics include NEFCA board involvement, union recruiting, buying-group participation, AI’s potential in estimating, and a detailed discussion of change orders and documentation.   Topics 00:54 Nicknames and Small Talk 01:36 How JC Floors Started 03:35 Ed Higgins Industry Veteran 05:05 Family Roles at JC Floors 06:24 Typical Projects and Market 07:08 Post COVID Office Changes 09:08 Jared Background and Homebuying 10:31 Remote Work During COVID 11:45 School Years and Early Hustles 15:17 Bachelor Trips and Travel Stories 17:37 Career Path in the Business 19:02 Brother Joins the Trade 19:42 Business Outlook and Crew Size 20:49 Unions and NEFCA Role 22:47 Recruiting the Next Generation 24:03 Buying Groups and Conferences 25:33 AI for Estimating 27:05 Change Orders Explained 30:35 Famous Three Questions 34:15 Italian Roots and Family Life 35:58 Wrap Up and Contact Info

Jamie Lopez on Large Flooring Projects & the Power of Collaboration

Mike interviews Jamie Lopez of Allegheny Contract about his flooring career, leadership, and personal background. Lopez, originally from El Salvador, came to Chelsea at 15 without speaking English and later built a career starting at union shop Circle Floors before leaving to seek more opportunity, briefly working independently and in California, then returning to Boston and gaining job-running experience through a non-union shop. He describes advancing at Allegheny during major early-2000s Cambridge/Boston growth and leading large projects including Battery Wharf and a Natick job installing wood in 500 luxury apartments in six weeks with extensive logistics and multiple crews. Lopez credits success to clear protocols, craftsmanship, and collaboration, and shares a Paris, France project that led to a client-funded family vacation. He cites mentors, emphasizes minimizing waste of time/materials/talent, and answers fun questions about coffee ice cream, grilling steak, and desired travel destinations.   Topics 00:46 Meet Jamie Lopez 02:49 Union Beginnings 04:45 Leaving the Union 05:34 Back to Boston 08:03 Running Bigger Jobs 09:21 Natick Six Week Sprint 11:35 How They Pulled It Off 15:08 Craft Pride and Floors 15:51 Immigration and Family 17:10 Home Life and Daughters 17:54 Hiking and Outdoors 18:45 White Mountains Reflections 19:39 Mentors And Standards 21:17 Why Ardex Matters 22:18 Paris Job Origin Story 25:54 Design Details And Perfection 28:46 Vacation Surprise Reward 31:53 What Sets Allegheny Apart 34:15 Famous Three Questions 36:02 Thanks And Sign Off

LeeAnn DiPietropolo on Distribution, Relationships & Giving Back in Flooring

Mike interviews LeeAnn DiPietropolo of Spartan Surfaces about her 25-year flooring distribution career, including 17 years at Sales Master after Western Carpet lost the AROC VCT line, and how Spartan’s acquisition expanded her work from contractor-driven sales to architect/designer specification for commercial projects like hospitals and schools. She describes Spartan’s product mix (rubber, Roppe, EVA/Capri Eco Surfaces, ceramic tile, wood, and installation supplies like MAPEI and Bostik), and shares her relationship-first sales philosophy and upcoming book, “Soul to Soul Selling.” Leanne also discusses her 501(c) charity Santa’s Porch, which has run for 10 years and helped over 1,000 children last year, including recognition on Live with Kelly and Ryan. She serves as vendor partner on the NEFCA board and addresses being a woman in a male-dominated industry, sustainability trends like PVC-free flooring, and current strength in the Boston market.   Mike Harris: michaelharris76@gmail.com [michaelharris76@gmail.com] LeeAnn DiPietropolo:  LDiPietropolo@spartanservices.com [LDiPietropolo@spartanservices.com]   Topics 00:45 Italian Nicknames Banter 01:55 Career at Sales Master 03:10 Spartan Transition and Spec Work 04:26 Product Lines and Job Types 06:18 From Philly to Massachusetts 07:59 Family Life and Kids 09:16 Sales Mentors and Roots 11:23 Soul to Soul Selling Book 13:16 Santa's Porch Charity 15:59 NEFCA Role and Mission 16:48 Owner Side Insights 17:16 Vendor Showcase Plans 17:28 Santas Porch Donation 19:20 Union Jobsite Economics 21:27 Life In Westerly 22:22 Nickname Call In 23:07 Women In Flooring 25:31 Green Materials Shift 27:41 Boston Market Outlook 28:21 Family Sports Stories 29:20 Famous Three Questions 31:20 Travel And Wrap Up