LL Flooring partners with contractor apprenticeship program
LL Flooring, formerly Lumber Liquidators, is partnering with the National Flooring Contractors Apprenticeship Program (NFCAP).
The partnership allows LL Flooring to lend resources and professional networks to help address the future need for flooring contractors and advance the profession. LL Flooring made the announcement during the recent Flooring Contractors Association (FCICA) conference in Austin, Texas.
As the first national retailer to partner with the apprenticeship program, LL Flooring will connect NFCAP apprentices across the country with participating flooring contractors who will mentor the flooring industry’s next generation of professional installers. The NFCAP is a nonprofit organization aimed at developing highly skilled flooring installers.
The specialty flooring retailer will also donate products, providing access to its website and marketing channels, advising on the curriculum, and providing direct financial support to grow the program.
“Installation services represent a core value we provide our customers, and we are excited to support future-facing programs like the NFCAP that are attracting and educating a new pool of installation talent,” said Damien McGaugh, senior vice president of sales at LL Flooring. “We have a broad LL network of professional installers and contractors who understand the importance of taking pride in quality craftsmanship, which we’re eager to foster in this upcoming generation.”
LL Flooring points to a recent that the industry will see nearly 200,000 installers and contractors retire over the next few years.
LL Flooring said that it is dedicated to serving its customers with a complete solution that includes both quality products and service, which is why the company is eager to dedicate resources to help build and train a new generation of high-quality installers and contractors who take pride in their craftsmanship.
NFCAP is working with the Department of Labor and the National Job Corps to connect with vocational schools and training programs across the country, the goal being to reach interested young tradespeople and link them with an LL Flooring contractor to get them on the track to certification.
Currently the NFCAP has apprenticeships underway in California; additionally, the program is fully approved in Texas, and it’s on track for approval in Florida, Illinois, and Nevada.
According to NFCAP founder Carlos Mongalo—a second-generation flooring installer—the industry will benefit from more consistent quality workmanship, which can be most effectively taught through apprenticeships. With a network of highly skilled contractors, he said that he is eager for the opportunity to reexamine the training process and build the next generation of skilled installers.
“Working with a company like LL Flooring is a huge boost for our program, and we’re excited to see the networks of potential participating contractors building quickly across the country,” said Mongalo. “In addition to working toward their certifications, these apprentices have the opportunity to learn vital entrepreneurial skills from experienced pro contractors and installers. With support from LL Flooring and the Job Corps, we’re excited to be laying the groundwork for the upcoming generation of pro installers.”
Based in Richmond, Va., LL Flooring operates 420 stores nationwide and offers over 500 varieties of hard-surface floors.
