UMI voted one of the ‘Best Places to Work’

We are proud to announce that Universal Metro, Inc. has been voted by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles 2022! We won this award in the Best Small Business category. 

When you consider that there are more than 250,000 businesses operating in Greater LA, this is a tremendous honor and a testament to the “Ideal Team Players” who make Universal Metro a special place to work. 

The nomination process was rigorous, and included an anonymous profile of the business. Our employees were surveyed about the team atmosphere and their own personal experience working at Universal Metro. 

The overall rankings and winners of various ‘Best Places to Work’ categories were unveiled at an August ceremony and appeared in the August 15, 2022 edition of the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Winners of 2021 Emerging Leaders Award Announced

Universal Metro’s Estimation Lead, Victoria Turkich, receives award for young professionals making a difference in flooring

Victoria Turkich“February 2021 — Challenging times require exceptional leadership, and 2020 showed just how critical that can be. Across the country, young men and women in the flooring industry were rising to the challenge, from establishing safety protocols for staff amid a pandemic to helping their communities’ most vulnerable populations, and their creative and thoughtful solutions drew the attention of colleagues and peers.

Each year, the Emerging Leaders Awards recognizes the outstanding talent of people under 40 like these within the dealer/retailer/contractor sector. And this year saw the largest pool of submissions in the award’s history, which was judged by field veterans Ralph Boe and Paul Friederichsen. Among the winners are a president, vice presidents, managers and directors, all of whom are bringing new perspectives and fresh ideas to the flooring world and shaping the future of the industry.

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Everyday Essentials Collection Offers Flooring Finishes in 10 Days or Less

While it’s always a benefit to get things in a timely manner, we have been conditioned for it in a world where Amazon and other retailers promise quick turnaround for nearly any product you can think of.

We believe that fast turnaround can also be a reality in flooring. As such, we have curated a collection of flooring finishes designed to meet urgent needs without compromise to quality or design. Our EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Collection includes carpet, LVT, and sheet vinyl flooring finishes that are available to install in as little as 3 days. For the full collection, visit https://universalmetro.com/everydayessentials/.

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Universal Metro’s Unique Installation of Carpet Tile Creates Fully Immersive 360 Experience at The Outer Realm Art Exhibit

How do you push the boundaries on a gallery space? For artist Michael Reeder, creating a fully immersive 360 experience with carpet tile was just the answer. In collaboration with Milliken’s national designers, their Los Angeles-based sales team, and our team of project managers and installation mechanics, Milliken’s DDI process was engaged to create a custom, patterned carpet tile that would extend the canvas beyond the showpiece to the floors and walls that surround it. To do so, the custom carpet tile needed to be as bold and as the artwork itself, and the installation had to be as precise and meticulous as the artist’s showcased work.

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UMI President contributes to “Evolution of the Flooring Contractor” Panel Discussion

In a June 2019 Floor Focus Magazine article, Universal Metro’s President participated in a panel discussion with three other Starnet Commercial Flooring Contractors regarding new opportunities and challenges facing the modern-day flooring contractor.

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UMI Wins Silver Award for Unique Installation Challenge at Starnet Design Awards

This weekend, Universal Metro, Inc. was honored at Starnet Commercial Flooring’s Annual Design Awards with a Silver Award in the Unique Installation Challenge category.

The complexity of this project was rooted in OSHPD requirements, intricate designs, inherent moisture conditions, and phased scheduling that allowed an acute care facility to remain open and operational during nearly two years of construction.

We’re humbled and gracious for the recognition we received and the opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding work of our team. Additionally, we’re grateful for the Vendor Partnerships that helped us execute this work and the design executed by c|a Architects of Long Beach, CA.

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Training Day – Ardex Demo and Silica Sand

As we grow, our team is continuously making strides to better itself. On Friday, that commitment was on full display, as staff and crew members took part in #ARDEX product demos and Silica Sand Compliance Training. This knowledge contributed to our #LevelMasterElite Installers’ expertise with direct, hands-on demonstrations using Ardex’s newest product innovations. Immediately following the product demos, our team was engaged in an extensive seminar focused on Silica Sand Best Practices, including Q & A time and a round table discussion with their fellow teammates.

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People’s Choice Gold Winner at 2018 Starnet Design Awards

A healthcare project once again took top billing in the Starnet Design Awards’ People’s Choice category. The Gold was awarded to Starnet Member Universal Metro for its work on the revitalized Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s (CHOC) NICU Wing. The new flooring features vivid colors and imaginative design that beautifies the environment, while creating a space conducive to patient care.
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8 Starnet Members Honored as Floor Focus Future Leaders

“Once a year, Floor Focus Magazine recognizes the best of the up-and-coming talent through its Future Focus awards. Those eligible for the awards must be under 40 years old and employed in the floorcovering dealer segment, including retailers, distributors and commercial contractors. Congratulations to the eight Starnet Members for achieving this distinguished honor.”

We at Universal Metro are especially proud of our very own Director of Sales and Marketing, Grant Petruzzelli, who was among the eight Starnet members honored with this notable award. Continue reading “8 Starnet Members Honored as Floor Focus Future Leaders”