Special
Features / June 2004
Floor
Show
Michael and Christine Contraguerro. |
By Pat Lawrence
Christie Contraguerro left Wheeling eight years ago
to launch her industrial engineering career but she’s come
back home to the family business of fine flooring. As a new graduate
of the University of Dayton, Christie took her first position as
an engineer at General Motors, involved with plant layout and job
descriptions. Later, she joined Daimler-Chrysler Corporation as
a production manager. But, she says, “I missed seeing my family,
and I missed the Ohio Valley. I had a standing invitation to join
my dad at Carpet Showcase, so I decided to come home and accept
the invitation. I think he was happy to have me and I’m glad
to be here.”
Although Christie admits the critical thinking and
problem solving skills she learned in industrial engineering have
helped her, the big difference of her new job is, “It lets
me see the results of my hard work right away. A lot of what I did
before was planning and evaluation. Plus, it was a corporate environment.
This is personal; the rewards are personal, which feels much better.
It’s a lot more fulfilling to work with your family than a
large corporation.”
She started learning the business “a little
at a time, from accounts receivables to sales.” Each day brings
new and interesting challenges. “Every single job is different
– every house, every customer. And there are so many different
kinds of floor coverings – carpet, vinyl, ceramic, hardwood,
laminate – and there is a lot to know about each of them.”
Carpet Showcase has a showroom along with a remnant warehouse and
Christie has become right at home on the showroom floor.
She says, “The most fun has been getting to
work with my dad and seeing him on a regular basis. Seeing him as
a professional and seeing him interact has been a wonderful experience.
He’s excellent with people!”
After learning the trade as a carpet installer, Michael
Contraguerro opened his own business in 1974. Christie was born
two years later. She says, “He’s been providing quality
products and unsurpassed service in the community for 30 years!”
The business is open six days a week and keeps 15-20
employees busy handling both residential and commercial flooring
needs. Michael and Christie have offices side by side, so they can
double their efforts to expand the business. Christie says, “We
get along very well and we work very well together. We spend a lot
of energy keeping our promise of ‘making design dreams affordable’.
We have disagreements, but not arguments. It is the nicest thing
to work with someone you trust!”
Carpet Showcase was recently voted Wheeling’s
No. 1 consumer choice in floor covering. Christie says, “
That’s a tribute that has to be earned.”
For more information, call Carpet Showcase, 3527
Jacob Street, Wheeling, at 304-232-2277.
Copyright © 2001-2009 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Top • Home • Subscribe • Advertise • Submit • Distribution • Contact
Support Our Advertisers • Organization Resources • Women Owned Business
Organization Resource List • Women Owned Businesses • Support Our Advertisers
Maintained by TEABROOKE
Website Design | SEO | Social Media Consulting
Related Sites | XMLSiteMap | Web Portal
Landing Zone SEO - Website | Search | Usability | Results | Goodness
Send an Email About This Article