b'NTCA MEMBER SPOTLIGHTK&S FlooringPierre, S.D.Enthusiasm and chutzpah lead to satisfying installation careerBy Lesley Goddin, EditorEnthusiasmforthetrade,andan experienced installer. He asked the willingness to go outside onessomelocalinstallerstomentor comfort zone, are two qualities thathim, and was excited when most of bring immeasurable value to a tilethem said yes. When push came to setters career path and success. shove, though, no one really came KylorKnox,ownerofK&Sthrough with the help he needed.Flooring in Pierre, S.D., got his startNot to be deterred, he connected workingasawarehousemanagerwithJohnRoberts,whowasone at a local fl store. He had aofhisCTEFinstructors.Robertsooring burning passion for learning aboutrecommended Knox call someone the fl ooring industry. When he wentfromtheCTEFsite.Thatswhere online to learn more, the fi rst thinghefoundaninstallertomentor thatheencounteredwasNTCAhim,andhewoundupworking Universitywhich led him to joinwith him and his wife for a while, the association three years ago.and continues to reach out to area Knoxsoughtinformationwher- installers to see if he can help with everhecouldfi it.Hewentprojects to hone his skills. nd toSchlutertrainings,andthenAboutayearagoKnoxalso toPortlandforanARDEXtrain- becametheSouthDakotaState ing.HediscoveredtheCeramicAmbassador.Isawtheneedfor TileEducationFoundation(CTEF)more education in South Dakota, and the vast resources it offers forhe said. someone starting out.I have jumped in head fi rst, and He learned that the store he washavebeenlearningfromallmy workingatwasgoingtohaveamistakes,Knoxsaid.Howelse shortage of installers and he want- doyoulearn? Thethingthatsets ed to learn the trade at the hands ofme apart is Im willing to go out-52 TileLetter | December 2019'