Payam Riazati Receives the Bruce Newbrough Memorial Scholarship
Aliquippa, PA, October 18, 2017 – FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, along with ARDEX Americas and nora systems, Inc. announced that Payim Riazati is the 2017 3rd quarter recipient of the Bruce Newbrough Memorial Certified Installation Manager Program (CIM) Scholarship.
Riazati of Universal Metro, Inc. writes, “I have always believed in the power of education and the difference it can make in one’s life.”
Riazati holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering with a specialization in structural design from the University of California, Irvine, and his master’s degree in civil engineering with a specialization in construction management. As Director of Construction Services at Universal Metro, Riazati has been working on substrate remediation techniques.
Riazati said, “I am humble and proud to be the recipient of the Bruce Newbrough Memorial Scholarship. This opportunity will help me in engaging myself in a life-long learning experience through CIM programs. It is my vision and dream to learn and deliver this knowledge to the next generation of Certified Installation Managers. On behalf of our entire team at Universal Metro, I would like to thank the FCICA board and committees as well as the sponsors of this program: ARDEX and nora.”
Bruce Newbrough, a former ARDEX Director of Technical Services and later Applications Development, was the inspiration for the eponomous scholarship due to his passion for industry education and training of proper substrate preparation. The scholarship covers the costs associated with the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program, including application, content and assessment fees.
Scholarship applications are accepted throughout the year, the next scholarship opportunity will open this December. Applications are available on the FCICA website: www.fcica.com/CIM .
About ARDEX, A Global Key Player in High Performance Specialty Building Materials: Recognized by installation experts, ARDEX is a global leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of high-performance specialty building products for all aspects of substrate preparation, floor covering, tile and stone installation systems and architectural concrete systems for commercial and residential applications. As family owned company and built on a foundation of product performance and a global focus on training, the ARDEX Group leads through local customer interaction striving for excellence in all that we do. For more information about ARDEX Americas: www.ardexamericas.com, or call 724-203-5000.
About the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program:
The CIM program provides industry-specific training modules led by experts that speak from years of floor covering experience packaged with assessments to confirm the vast knowledge obtained. The program is completely online, allowing users to work at their own pace, on their own time. For more information about the CIM Program, go to www.fcica.com/CIM.
About FCICA: FCICA, headquartered in West Bloomfield, Michigan, is the resource for premier commercial flooring contractors. Promoting the advancement and continuous development of Certified Installation Managers (CIM). Providing technical education, business support and industry expert networking. Delivering skills and knowledge to enhance the professionalism of commercial flooring contractors. FCICA is an international association whose contractor members serve the continental United States, plus Canada and Guam. For more information about FCICA: visit www.fcica.com or call 248-661-5015; toll free (877) TO-FCICA.
ARDEX Americas Matches Employee Donations for Hurricane Relief Efforts
Aliquippa, PA, September 18, 2017 – ARDEX Americas is committed to aiding recovery and rebuilding efforts by all those affected by the recent hurricanes and announced that it will be matching employee donations collected through the end of September. The contributions, as well as an additional corporate donation, will be made to the Red Cross.
As the immediate recovery ends and long-term rebuilding efforts begin, ARDEX Americas will be working in collaboration with distribution partners to help those affected in the local communities to recover and rebuild.
For more information on ARDEX Americas, please visit www.ardexamericas.com or call 1-888-512-7339 to find a distributor near you.
A Global Innovation Leader in High Performance Specialty Building Materials: Recognized by installation experts, ARDEX is a global leader in the development, manufacturing and distribution of high-performance specialty building products for all aspects of substrate preparation, floor covering, tile and stone installation systems and architectural concrete systems for commercial and residential applications. A family owned company, the ARDEX Group leads through local customer interaction striving for excellence in all that we do.
Trash Talk: ARDEX Making Big Strides in Recycling
This summer ARDEX Americas’ Dallas, Georgia, plant rolled out an innovative recycling initiative that will effectively eliminate a large portion of waste produced the facility. Michael Deppa, Plant Engineer, spearheaded the effort with the help of Tim Blanchett, Plant Manager.
Michael explains, “Essentially nothing used to produce our products will end up in a landfill – things like cardboard, stretch film and plastic pails.”
The Dallas plant partnered with a local, well-established, industrial recycling company to recycle the material. Designated plant areas were assigned for each type of material, and employees in each department were individually trained to use, empty and maintain the areas.
“It does require a little bit of coordination to set this up and keep it working,” Deppa said. “Our challenge now is to maintain and motivate everyone to continue the processes we’ve set up.”
Pictured: ARDEX Shipper/Loader Britanya Womack participates in the plant-wide recycling initiative.
Tim believes that, “This is a vital program that underscores ARDEX’ commitment to the environment and sustainability. Every plant employee plays a role in the success of this program.”
“Efforts like this one have the potential to make a huge impact over time,” Michael says in closing, “and as an added bonus, we’re saving money on dumpsters!”
ARDEX Recognized by NASFA For Participation and Support
NASFA, the National Association of State Facilities Administrators, recognized ARDEX Americas during their 2017 Conference & Resource Expo held from June 11 to June 14, 2017. Robert Jones (left), President of the NASFA Virginia Chapter, presented the award to Mike Tracy, ARDEX Business Development Manager, in appreciation of ARDEX’s participation and support for the event and the organization.
Tracy said, “This was ARDEX’s first participation in NASFA’s Annual Conference. The caliber of the attendees, professionalism, level of engagement and information interchange was impressive and exhilarating!”
The Expo was held at the Sheraton in Virginia Beach, Virginia. NASFA is an association committed to fostering communication and providing leadership for the state facilities professional.
ARDEX Americas Wins Healthiest Employers in Western Pennsylvania Award
Aliquippa, PA, April 8, 2017 – ARDEX Americas, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance building products, received the 2017 Healthiest Employers in Western Pennsylvania award by the Pittsburgh Business Times. This marks the fifth time ARDEX Americas has won the award.
Over 100 companies entered the competition, and 24 winners were selected across the different categories. This year ARDEX Americas competed in the 100-499 employee category, and there were six winners in this category. Winners were selected based on a score compiled from leading health intelligence platform Springbuk®. The order of winners in each category will be announced at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 8, to be held at the Westin Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
Breanne Thompson, ARDEX Benefits Manager, said, “The Healthiest Employer Award is very thorough in considering everything from wellness benefits to senior management involvement, and ARDEX is delighted to once again win this prestigious award.” ARDEX Americas was founded in 1978, and since the beginning has always placed great importance in promoting the health of employees. “Having ARDEX’s dedication to employee health recognized reaffirms the extraordinary success we’ve experienced,” Thompson added.
When we asked Tile Solutions owner Jayme Smith what he loves about ARDEX UI 740™ FLEXBONE® Uncoupling Membrane, here’s what he had to say. Jayme recently used FLEXBONE in a beautiful home on Lake Sacandaga, New York.
« My favorite feature is how easy the product fills in compared to its competitors. Couple that with using ARDEX X 77™ MICROTEC® Fiber Reinforced Tile and Stone Mortar [ my go to favorite] it’s a win-win. Of course I recommend this to other installers, as its a premium quality product like many other ARDEX products I’ve used. »
Thanks Tom Duffy San Diego for Hosting the Man in the Van!
The man in the van set up shop at Tom Duffy in sunny San Diego, California. We spy a contractor in the background with some ARDEX FEATHER FINISH® Self-Drying, Cement-Based Finish Underlayment in hand…classic!
#FlexBoneFriday- Stellar Contractors Hit the ‘Easy’ Button
Today Jake and Cheyanne Watts, co-owner’s of Stellar Contractors in Portland, Oregon, share a sweet Carrara marble tile installation laid over none other than ARDEX UI 740 FLEXBONE.
Jake’s Take:
« ARDEX UI 740™ FLEXBONE® Uncoupling Membrane is easy to work with, easy to lay flat and easy to backfill. The combination of the ARDEX UI 740™ FLEXBONE®and ARDEX AF 207™ makes for a quick painless install that is tileable immediately. It’s also nice to use a complete ARDEX system with a full warranty!I would recommend it to any installer and will use it on all future jobs where it’s applicable. »
#FlexBoneFriday Icon Tile and Design’s Conservatorium Project!
FlexBone Friday Roll Call! Today, we hear a testimonial from Jamen Matthew, owner of Icon Tile & Design in Washington state.
« Our entire crew are big fans of using ARDEX UI 740™ FLEXBONE® Uncoupling Membrane because it’s lightweight, rolls out and installs easily.
We were recently working on a conservatorium project in the Seattle area. Living and working in the Pacific Northwest has its challenges at times. Varying temperatures and weather conditions combined with homes constructed out of both concrete and wood create a “perfect storm” for structure movement.
I contacted our ARDEX Sales Representative William White and shared our substrate and tile product information. He recommended we use ARDEX UI 740™ FLEXBONE® to uncouple from the substrate and then prefill with ARDEX Liquid BackerBoard® Self-Leveling Underlayment for Interior Wood and Concrete Subfloors.
The result? We had a flat surface to work with that met site requirements and was prepared in no time at all. This led to a top quality installation that our customer was elated with. »
This month marks Robert “Bob” Dalton, Director of Customer Operations and Commercial Excellence, 25th year milestone in his career with ARDEX Americas.
Bob started with ARDEX on February 10, 1992 as a Sales Professional in Eastern PA, Southern NJ and Delaware, and has made significant contributions to the growth of our organization over the 25 year time span. In July 1995, he was promoted to Midwest Regional Manager and was named Sales Manager, Central Division, in 2008. In April 2010, ARDEX responded to the changing market by redesigning its sales structure and Bob was named Business Manager, West Division, leading the company’s sales efforts in 25 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces.
As the market landscape continued to evolve and ARDEX diversified its business, we made a strategic decision to focus even more resources and attention on our customers and how we service and create deeper relationships and value. To support this key initiative, Bob was named Director of Customer Operations and Commercial Excellence in 2012.
Bob’s leadership and commitment to the business have allowed him to consistently deliver new sales growth, provide leadership to our organization, solidify and strengthen our relationships with customers and design strategies to meet the current and future needs of our organization.
February 3, 2017 marks Randy Holt’s 20-year Anniversary with ARDEX. Randy began his career at ARDEX as a temporary Production worker in the Coraopolis facility, and was then hired on as a full-time employee. When ARDEX moved to the Aliquippa plant in 2000, Randy became a shift leader and with his desire, dedication, and drive to learn everything he could about the Aliquippa facility he quickly became a part of the newly formed maintenance department and has since become the Maintenance coordinator for that team of three. He is the ‘go to guy’ in the maintenance department and has the most experience working on and working with the equipment here in Aliquippa. Due to Randy’s knowledge of not only the plant equipment but also the plant processes he helps train new guys in the plant on both equipment and OSHA policies. He has also provided support and training for the Mansfield, TX, Stockton, CA and Dallas, GA plants both during commissioning and after, with the ongoing day to day maintenance. Randy’s knowledge of ARDEX and the equipment that we use in the plants has made him a valuable resource for not only the Aliquippa plant but all of the other plants in the system as well.
February 1, 2017 marks Tim Kehayias’ 20-year anniversary with ARDEX Americas! Tim began his career as a DC Metro Sales Professional and went on to management roles, as well as being involved with critical special programs for the company, including Ardiflo and ACMS. In January of 2016, Tim brought his experience and talents to the Chicago market, joining the team as a Sales Professional.
February 1, 2017 marks Stephen Bass’ 10-year Anniversary with ARDEX. Stephen began his career at ARDEX as a Purchasing Manager, where he continued to take on more responsibilities in important company initiatives and new product commercialization. His outstanding efforts and dedication earned him the then newly-created position of Supply Chain Manager, Strategic Initiatives and New Product Commercialization. As the first person in the company to hold this title, Stephen was tasked with shaping and defining the role to meet the needs of the company. In addition to his Supply Chain Duties he has maintained his role as Purchasing Manager working closely with the Purchasing people at all our facilitates to make sure we take advantage of all synergies and “Best in Class” processes that allows our company to enjoy the best quality, cost and delivery of materials that make up our top of the line products.
February 23, 2017 marks Udell Hollins’ 10-year anniversary with ARDEX. Udell began his time as a temporary production laborer, and was then hired on full time in February of 2007 in the Runner/Sanitation role. In this role Udell is responsible for ensuring that all mail is delivered in a timely manner, as well as maintaining the cleanliness in the Aliquippa plant. Udell’s friendly manner and politeness are two attributes that have served him well in this role.
February 12, 2017 marks Brian Leheny’s 10-year Anniversary with ARDEX. Brian started his career in ARDEX production and learned the different jobs to support our manufacturing operation. In 2012 Brian was promoted into the position of Control Room Leader. In this role Brian carries out many responsibilities which include coordinating daily schedules, managing bulk silo inventories, making daily crew assignments and ensuring his production team meets daily safety, quality and efficiency goals. Brian has been a key production team leader that has helped our organization expand and integrate new investments and processes.
Congratulations to you all on your years of service, here is to many more!
Unique Mosaics Shows ARDEX Pride…#TileTuesday
Angie Halford and her WINNING Mosaic Masterpiece! Photo credit:Melissa Keel
When Global Tile Posse Facebook Group admin Jason McDaniel came up with a contest challenge for members to show their ARDEX pride, Unique Mosaics owner Angie Halford rose to the occasion. The rules were simple: the projects MUST be done by hand, no waterjet or CNC, and they must use tile or stone & incorporate ARDEX in some way.
Putting more than 150 hours of work in, Angie created a masterpiece! This piece is a self-portrait, 26″x26″,mixed media mosaic using the direct method. Angie used vitreous glass tile, glitter tile, iridescent tiles, millefiori and stained glass on backerboard with ARDEX FG-C Unsanded Grout in Black Licorice.
We asked her what her favorite thing about ARDEX tiling products is, and here is what she had to say:
ARDEX products have always been a trustworthy and reliable product for each job I use them for. I have tried other brands, but it is obvious when I use ARDEX that I am getting a top-of-the-line quality result, and for that reason, I absolutely love using ARDEX!
Photo credit:Melissa Keel
Photo credit:Melissa Keel
Special thanks to the Global Tile Posse and Angie for their ARDEX PRIDE!
Annual Reception With Friends in Las Vegas – All Winners Here!
On January 18th in Las Vegas, ARDEX Americas once again held their annual “Reception with Friends” customer event which gathers industry friends from all over North America, represented by Distributors, Contractors, Architects and Association Partners. From jumbo shrimp to sleight of hand magic, ARDEX friends from Canada, Mexico and the United States filled the Paris Las Vegas Hotel ballroom and enjoyed a night of relaxation, food and entertainment. Mark Walsh, ARDEX Director of Sales – US remarked, “The event gets bigger each year. Friends from tiling to flooring and friends old and new, this event allows us to celebrate 2016 and look forward to an exciting 2017”.
EJ Welch Hosts ARDEX Demo Day in Davenport, IA!
Hey Davenport, Iowa installers! E.J. Welch Company is hosting an ARDEX extravaganza Wednesday, January 25 from 2-6 pm. Be sure to stop by! ARDEX leveling and tiling products and the ARDEX team there to answer questions/conduct demos. See you there!
EJ Welch Company
5920 Fremont ave
Davenport Iowa
52807
#ManInTheVan Visits Ikea in Burbank, CA
The ARDEX Man in the Van never rests….here he is conducting an ARDEX CD™ Concrete Dressing job start at IKEA in Burbank, CA!
When we asked Tile Solutions owner Jayme Smith what he loves about 
The man in the van set up shop at Tom Duffy in sunny San Diego, California. We spy a contractor in the background with some 
Today Jake and Cheyanne Watts, co-owner’s of Stellar Contractors in Portland, Oregon, share a sweet Carrara marble tile installation laid over none other than ARDEX UI 740 FLEXBONE.
FlexBone Friday Roll Call! Today, we hear a testimonial from Jamen Matthew, owner of Icon Tile & Design in Washington state.
This month marks Robert “Bob” Dalton, Director of Customer Operations and Commercial Excellence, 25th year milestone in his career with ARDEX Americas.
February 3, 2017 marks Randy Holt’s 20-year Anniversary with ARDEX. Randy began his career at ARDEX as a temporary Production worker in the Coraopolis facility, and was then hired on as a full-time employee. When ARDEX moved to the Aliquippa plant in 2000, Randy became a shift leader and with his desire, dedication, and drive to learn everything he could about the Aliquippa facility he quickly became a part of the newly formed maintenance department and has since become the Maintenance coordinator for that team of three. He is the ‘go to guy’ in the maintenance department and has the most experience working on and working with the equipment here in Aliquippa. Due to Randy’s knowledge of not only the plant equipment but also the plant processes he helps train new guys in the plant on both equipment and OSHA policies. He has also provided support and training for the Mansfield, TX, Stockton, CA and Dallas, GA plants both during commissioning and after, with the ongoing day to day maintenance. Randy’s knowledge of ARDEX and the equipment that we use in the plants has made him a valuable resource for not only the Aliquippa plant but all of the other plants in the system as well.
February 1, 2017 marks Tim Kehayias’ 20-year anniversary with ARDEX Americas! Tim began his career as a DC Metro Sales Professional and went on to management roles, as well as being involved with critical special programs for the company, including Ardiflo and ACMS. In January of 2016, Tim brought his experience and talents to the Chicago market, joining the team as a Sales Professional.
February 1, 2017 marks Stephen Bass’ 10-year Anniversary with ARDEX. Stephen began his career at ARDEX as a Purchasing Manager, where he continued to take on more responsibilities in important company initiatives and new product commercialization. His outstanding efforts and dedication earned him the then newly-created position of Supply Chain Manager, Strategic Initiatives and New Product Commercialization. As the first person in the company to hold this title, Stephen was tasked with shaping and defining the role to meet the needs of the company. In addition to his Supply Chain Duties he has maintained his role as Purchasing Manager working closely with the Purchasing people at all our facilitates to make sure we take advantage of all synergies and “Best in Class” processes that allows our company to enjoy the best quality, cost and delivery of materials that make up our top of the line products.
February 23, 2017 marks Udell Hollins’ 10-year anniversary with ARDEX. Udell began his time as a temporary production laborer, and was then hired on full time in February of 2007 in the Runner/Sanitation role. In this role Udell is responsible for ensuring that all mail is delivered in a timely manner, as well as maintaining the cleanliness in the Aliquippa plant. Udell’s friendly manner and politeness are two attributes that have served him well in this role.
February 12, 2017 marks Brian Leheny’s 10-year Anniversary with ARDEX. Brian started his career in ARDEX production and learned the different jobs to support our manufacturing operation. In 2012 Brian was promoted into the position of Control Room Leader. In this role Brian carries out many responsibilities which include coordinating daily schedules, managing bulk silo inventories, making daily crew assignments and ensuring his production team meets daily safety, quality and efficiency goals. Brian has been a key production team leader that has helped our organization expand and integrate new investments and processes.
On January 18th in Las Vegas, ARDEX Americas once again held their annual “Reception with Friends” customer event which gathers industry friends from all over North America, represented by Distributors, Contractors, Architects and Association Partners. From jumbo shrimp to sleight of hand magic, ARDEX friends from Canada, Mexico and the United States filled the Paris Las Vegas Hotel ballroom and enjoyed a night of relaxation, food and entertainment. Mark Walsh, ARDEX Director of Sales – US remarked, “The event gets bigger each year. Friends from tiling to flooring and friends old and new, this event allows us to celebrate 2016 and look forward to an exciting 2017”.
