Santa Fe Springs, CA, October 12, 2023 – Promotion News: CEO Dave Triepke has named Sheila Kennedy President of Universal Metro, Inc. (UMI) and Scott Arendt Vice President. “The promotions will help UMI focus on bigger target initiatives and goals”, according to Triepke.
Sheila Kennedy’s promotion to President is a move that marks a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and evolution. Since joining UMI in January 2016 as a Project Engineer, and later serving as Director of Operations beginning in 2018, Sheila has been instrumental in transforming operational processes, improving efficiency, and scaling the company’s capabilities to meet increasing demand. Her leadership has helped lay the foundation for UMI’s sustained success.
With a unique blend of field experience and executive insight, Sheila brings a deep understanding of both the technical and strategic aspects of the business. Her previous tenure at Zickel Flooring in Missouri—where she gained experience across Accounting, Estimating, and Project Management—has given her a well-rounded perspective that continues to benefit UMI. As President, Sheila will focus on aligning the company’s long-term vision with day-to-day execution, strengthening cross-departmental collaboration, and enhancing the culture of accountability and innovation. Her promotion is a testament to her leadership and a promising step forward for Universal Metro’s future.
Arendt arrived at UMI in November 2016 as the Director of Sales and Business Development. Since joining, he’s established himself as a trusted partner for vendors and sophisticated buyers and has built a robust network that provides business development opportunities on both regional and national levels.
Arndt’s promotion to Vice President will further strengthen UMI’s strategic direction, leveraging his proven leadership and deep industry relationships to drive growth and enhance client partnerships. His vision and experience will play a critical role in expanding UMI’s presence and reinforcing its reputation for excellence.
Prior to UMI, Scott worked as a Senior Executive in Sales and Marketing for Mr. David’s Flooring International (now Diverzify) in Illinois for over 12 years.
“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.
Universal Metro’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Grant Petruzzelli, receives an award recognizing Young Professionals under 40 in the floor covering industry. 