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Rugs Direct Acquires Lightopia, an Omnichannel Lighting Retailer
Quality Assurance Strategies & Risk Management Solutions By Don Neff, President, LJP Construction Services
Construction defect litigation (CDL) claims have significantly impacted the building industry. They are complex and costly to resolve, reducing homeowner satisfaction and tarnishing a builder’s reputation. Building companies that proactively focus on raising construction quality can minimize these CDL issues in the field and improve performance that will help avoid costly rework. This will produce higher homebuyer satisfaction and fewer warranty claims. LJP Construction Services provides third party QA solutions for building and insurance company clients seeking effective risk management strategies and training programs spanning the full project delivery cycle. In the face of current pent-up housing demand coupled with the lack of skilled construction trade workers, builders find themselves unable to produce sufficient housing in many U.S. markets. This lack of skilled workers can result in project deficiencies such as poor field workmanship, misinterpretation of plan details and deviations from manufacturers’ recommendations. Leading builders have initiated a more proactive and robust approach to raise their quality metrics with a unique software solution employed by qualified independent field consultants evaluating specific assemblies during construction. The CaptureQA® app is a proprietary inspection and documentation software designed by LJP Construction Services to identify trending problems before they become embedded in a completed project. It connects the field to the office with same-day reporting and provides powerful graphical measures that are both intuitive and insightful about project
BOOTH #S306 HomeServe Acquires Louisville Based United Plumbing Company
Orlando Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Rugs Direct Holdings, LLC recently completed the acquisition of Lightopia, LLC, an omnichannel lighting retailer for residential customers and trade professionals. Lightopia represents brands focused on contemporary design, quality materials and responsible manufacturing, and helps clients solve architectural and decorative lighting needs utilizing the latest LED lighting technology. The company has three retail locations and one warehouse in southern California and an online store at www.lightopiaonline.com. Together, Rugs Direct and Lightopia are well-positioned to be a leader in the midto high-end home furnishings market. The combined company has an extensive product catalog of over 200 partner brands, a customer base of more than 400,000 residential, trade professional and commercial customers, and has grown revenues significantly in recent years. “Category expansion is core to the long-term strategy of Rugs Direct, and we are thrilled to have Lightopia join us,” said Rugs Direct CEO, Myles Felsing. “We have recently seen success adding adjacent soft décor categories to our core area rugs assortment and see tremendous opportunity within the lighting category going forward. Our belief is that lighting often serves as a key starting point of an interior design or redecorating project, and area rugs are the finishing touch that ties it all together. Having two strong ecommerce brands in these cornerstone product categories positions us well for continued growth.” Ken Vick, Principal of Lightopia, said, "Lightopia is excited to partner with Rugs Direct and its strong marketing, merchandising, and technology capabilities. These are the ingredients we needed to grow so it's a perfect fit."
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HomeServe USA, a leading provider of service plans, repair, and installation services for the home, announced the acquisition of United Plumbing Company. Based in Goshen, Kentucky, a suburb of Louisville, the residential plumbing company has been providing top quality plumbing services in the area for several decades. The relationship between United Plumbing and HomeServe is not a new one. United Plumbing has been a longstanding contractor in the HomeServe network for 14 years and has won numerous accolades and awards throughout the years, including the prestigious Diamond Award, awarded annually to HomeServe’s top contractor. United Plumbing is led by Christopher Montgomery, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and sole owner of the business since 2012. While Chris has been in the plumbing trade for almost three decades, the Montgomery family’s legacy in the plumbing business can be traced back to the late 1930s when Sam Montgomery, Sr., Chris’ grandfather, began his career as a plumber, eventually starting his own plumbing company in the mid-1940s, which he ran until his retirement in the mid-1980s. In 1984, Chris’ father and brother, Sam Montgomery, Jr. and Sam Montgomery, III, respectively, started United Plumbing. Chris Montgomery joined the family business in the mid-1990s, became an owner in 1999, and soon thereafter started the Company’s service division, the precursor to United Plumbing’s current business focus. Today, United Plumbing has nearly 40 employees and offers a variety of exterior and interior plumbing services including: leak detection, drain cleaning, septic system installation and service, hydrojetting, sewer service and repairs, water heaters, faucet and pipe leak repairs, and sump pumps. “Cultural fit, quality of service and customer experience are the three most important Continued on Page 13
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PGT Innovations Appoints John Kunz as Chief Financial Officer
PGT Innovations, Inc., a national leader in the premium window and door category, announced the appointment of John E. Kunz as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 17, 2022. Kunz brings over 25 years of experience in accounting, treasury, international finance and business operations to PGT Innovations. In his new role, he will lead the company’s finance strategy, budgeting and planning, accounting, financial reporting and investor relations functions, as well as provide strategic direction relating to the company’s information technology efforts. “John is a proven CFO with nearly three decades of finance and accounting leadership experience, an impressive history of directing finance strategy, and a thorough understanding of key business drivers within the construction industry and their impact on financial results,” said Jeff Jackson, PGT Innovations Chief Executive Officer and President. “In addition, his success with merger and acquisition activities for publicly traded organizations aligns incredibly well with our Company’s long-term growth strategy. I’m pleased to welcome him to PGT Innovations, and we look forward to the leadership he will bring to our organization.” Most recently, Kunz served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at U.S. Concrete, Inc. During his time there, Kunz partnered with the senior leadership team to identify strategic targets and markets, completed numerous acquisitions, and managed a highly leveraged capital structure, among other duties. “I am delighted to join the PGT Innovations family at this stage in the Company’s trajectory,” said Kunz. “It’s extremely exciting to have the opportunity to assist the existing leadership team through a period of incredible growth and expansion.” Continued on Page 13