Ed Lacina: Flooring the Bay Area
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
SAN JOSE — After more than 40 years in the flooring industry, Ed Lacina is a foremost authority in matters underfoot. “I have an extensive background in flooring manufacturing and sales,” he affirms. “I studied industrial production in college, and after I graduated, I went to work for Armstrong Flooring, where I gained experience in manufacturing both carpet and hard surface flooring. In the early 1980s, I decided to move out of manufacturing and into sales, so I purchased Murison’s FlooringAmerica from its original owner. Thirty years later, I’m still here.”
Today, Ed says his favorite part of his job is seeing the results of his work. “One reason I left the manufacturing side of the business is because I never got to see the final application. In contrast, when you’re working in sales and installation, you get to see projects come to fruition and have a greater impact on people’s lives. That’s something I still enjoy today.”
Originally from Ohio, Ed moved to Northern California in 1971. As a resident of the South Bay (where he lives with his wife, Diane), he expresses his appreciation for the pleasant character of Bay Area living. “The lifestyle in the Bay Area is beautiful,” he says. “The weather, the surroundings, the people…I get up every morning thankful I’m able to live in such a place.”
Outside of work, Ed devotes the bulk of his time to his chief avocation of musical performance. “I play French horn and perform with local orchestras for various concerts and productions,” he says. “Right now, I’m doing a Broadway musical in downtown San Jose called ‘A Little Night Music.’ Between rehearsals and performances, it takes up the majority of my free time, but I enjoy it.” When he’s not rehearsing or performing, Ed likes to spend time with family. “Diane and I have two children, both of whom have kids of their own, so we enjoy seeing them and our grandchildren as often as we can.”
In regard to his professional career, Ed says he routinely strives to exceed customer expectations. “Our mission statement is to seek perfection in the eyes of the customer, which can be very challenging, especially since people’s standards can vary widely. That’s why we always go the extra mile and try to deliver a product that’s better than what the customer was anticipating.”
When asked what his future retirement might look like, Ed says he’ll do some long-deferred traveling. “Besides spending more time at the beach and the golf course, I think travel will be the major thing. In addition to international travel, I’d like to see more of the United States, especially some of our beautiful national parks.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite style of music?
A: Big band jazz.
Q: If you could immediately master any musical instrument, what would you choose?
A: The cello.
Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person. Our dog, Butch, can usually be found hanging out in the showroom.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Portugal has been on my bucket list for a while—I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.
Q: How do you like your eggs?
A: Over easy.
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