Shawano, Wis.— Owens Forest Products (OFP) has hired Mike Ricker as director of sales and marketing for Owens Flooring Co., a division of OFP and manufacturer of Plankfloor engineered wood flooring. Ricker’s background includes 15 years in the flooring industry, most recently with Armstrong World Industries and Bruce Hardwood Floors.

In this newly-created position, Ricker’s immediate plan is to build brand awareness, increase market share and find new distribution opportunities for the Plankfloor product line. He began last month and reports directly to Bob Owens, OFP’s owner and CEO.

Already, Ricker can see many exciting opportunities. “The market for premium hardwood flooring is growing and Owens is well positioned to meet industry demand. With Plankfloor, our customers receive the advantages of solid hardwood without sacrificing dimensional stability. We also produce Plankfloor within the U.S., which provides many competitive advantages over imported flooring products. Advantages include shorter lead times, better quality control and superior access to lumber.”

Ricker also intends to work closely with Heritage Veneered Products, manufacturer of Woodport interior doors and Owens’ sister division. “Together,” he stated, “we have the ability to leverage our portfolio of door and flooring products. Creating synergy between both divisions will enable us to reach our true potential.”

Prior to joining Owens Flooring, Ricker held various positions with Armstrong World Industries. Most recently, he was the general manager of Premium Wood Flooring.

For more on Owens Flooring, call 715/526-7744.
—Louis Iannaco