Mike, a valuable asset at Floor Covering Brokers since 2002, became Vice President and General Manager effective 2017. And now, as of January 1, 2026 Mike and his wife Kristi, became proud Owners of both Floor Covering Brokers and Carpet Galleria as owner Denny Lauterbach retired. Mike has a deep understanding of the floor covering business, having produced excellent results in Sales, Operations and Material Management throughout his 23-year career here. He has a mind for detail and customer service, and a terrific eye for design based on technical training. These strong traits have resulted in Mike being newly elected by Carpet One as a Michigan RNG Coordinator! Mike’s generous and kind spirit has prompted his involvement in several charitable and local activities, including:
• 3 ½ years as a big brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan<
• Rotarian since 2017
• Key member of the Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team
• Bell Ringing for Salvation Army for 5 years
• Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation Board for 7 years, where he is co-chair of the Activities Committee and volunteers  weekly during their Concert on the Lawn series.

After 34 years of employment at FCB, Kristi and husband Mike Watkins became proud owners of both Carpet Galleria and Floor Covering Brokers Carpet One, as owner Denny Lauterbach retired. Kristi started as the part-time receptionist, held many positions in the business department and is now the Owner/Accounting Supervisor. She is the key to the many behind-the-scenes components that make our business run efficiently and has a vast knowledge of our company. Born and raised in Traverse City, Kristi continues to call it home. In her free time, she loves to travel, see new places and make memories with her husband, Mike. Her favorite place to spend time is by the ocean in South Carolina. She enjoys sharing that time with her three grown children, their significant others and granddaughter, Scarlett.

I have been with Carpet Galleria since 2005 – 17 years now – and we have grown together like family. My life (and hair) is ever-changing; with a young child, home remodeling, and future goals, I have always had the support of my Carpet Galleria family. It is that loving relationship that makes me really proud to be a part of this team.

I grew up in Saginaw and earned a degree in Interior Design. After moving to the Grand Rapids/Holland area I became involved in floor covering. I have enjoyed the challenge of working with many different clients and their homes, helping people solve design problems.

I have adopted the tile/stone area as my on-going, evolving specialty. There are so many things that these materials have to offer. I try to keep the showroom stocked with good basics to get started, and lots of beautiful accents to help inspire and take the design to the next level. I look forward to meeting you and helping make confident design and flooring decisions for your home.

My family moved to Northern Michigan in the year 2000 from the Chicago area, and I’ve been here ever since! To satisfy my creative ambition, I studied Interior Design at Northwestern Michigan College, which has led me to this industry.

Prior to joining the Carpet Galleria team, I gained experience in the world of tile, where I helped clients with selections for flooring, backsplashes and more. Bathrooms were my favorite – making selections for showers and steam rooms to create a tranquil and luxurious space was fulfilling. At Carpet Galleria, I look forward to helping clients with a full array of carpet and area rugs, along with hard surface flooring products. With a heart for customer service, a keen eye for detail, and the desire to be creative, I’m here to help with your next project!

Outside of work, I love the outdoors, photography, boating, hiking and Yoga. I am most excited about remodeling a home with my boyfriend Sean and traveling together in years to come. With the rest of our time, we like to relax with his children, our pets, and attend live music events.

I’m excited to join the Carpet Galleria team and to combine my love for design with my passion for helping people. After graduating high school, I jumped straight into the workforce and built a strong background in customer service—primarily in the food industry—where I learned the importance of communication, attention to detail, and creating great experiences for every customer.

Those people-skills, along with my natural eye for design, are what I’m bringing to my new role in flooring and area rug sales. I love helping customers find pieces that not only fit their homes, but reflect their personal style—whether that’s modern, traditional, or something completely unique.

Outside of work, you’ll probably find me exploring vintage and resale shops for unique fashion and home décor pieces, spending time with friends and family, or curled up with a classic book or movie in my cozy downtown apartment. All with the great fortune of having my sweetheart, Ryan by my side!

I am a down-stater from Three Rivers, Michigan where much of my family remains. After high school I attended Columbus College of Art and Design for two years before transferring to Kendall College of Art and Design where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design. After college, I jumped on a plane and started the next phase of my life in Sandpoint, Idaho. I began my interior design career at Amberleaf Designs. I worked there for four years until I had my first child, Rylee. I took a little time off before I started working in the world of flooring for Sandpoint Furniture Carpet One. I adored my life in Idaho, but I started missing my Michigan family. Nine years ago, my husband Nathan, myself and daughters Rylee and Carolina moved back to Michigan. We have enjoyed the area and what it has to offer our family.

I have been part of the Carpet Galleria family for seven years now. I feel grateful to have such a beautiful showroom to walk our clients through. With a degree in Interior Design, I enjoy assisting in creating timeless and personable spaces.

I’ve had the pleasure of calling Traverse City home since moving here in 1985 from the Detroit area. My work in the flooring industry started in 1998 and since then I have greatly enjoyed helping customers with their flooring selections and designs. Throughout my career, I’ve built an expertise in sales, customer service, and organizational support, always believing that strong relationships are the foundation for a great customer experience. My goal is to make every client feel comfortable, confident, and well cared for.

I’m grateful to have my two grown children living nearby in Traverse City, as family plays an important role in my life. At age 54, I fulfilled a longtime personal goal by returning to school and earning my cosmetology license—an achievement of which I’m very proud.

Outside of work, I enjoy crocheting and creating handmade jewelry. I find joy in gifting my creations to friends and family. These hobbies not only serve as a creative outlet for me but also provide great relaxation!

I’m happy to be part of the Carpet Galleria family and look forward to continuing my career alongside my dedicated coworkers in this beautiful flooring store.

I have been in sales for over twenty years and am happy to call Traverse City home since 2002. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, and a Business minor from Western Michigan University, I feel well suited to help home owners design and remodel their home flooring and tile projects. I’ve always had a love for color, fabric, and texture. I believe my strength is in my consultative approach to sales... understanding the customer’s needs and working together to determine the best solution for their budget.

I am happy to be a new member of the Carpet Galleria team! A great amount of my time here will be spent sourcing and selling area rugs… striving to find the best collection of beautiful rugs available for our customers. I am married to my college sweetheart, and we have two grown kids. We love to spend time exploring northern Michigan and are enjoying our new empty nest status.

I have been the Accountant at Carpet Galleria for six years, I feel I am getting up to speed with retail sales and flooring and adding value to the team. There will always be more to learn as this is a constantly changing industry. This also makes every day interesting and new.

I love to learn about the products we sell from the sales staff and see all the beautiful new things that come into the store on a daily basis. Beautiful colorful rugs, decorative tiles, and lots more!

On my off time, I love to garden, cook and am an avid reader. I also love to take walks with my husband Jon and Labrador Retriever, Tessi.

I’m proud to work for Carpet Galleria who has a reputation for carrying the best flooring around!

Originally from Petoskey MI, and later moving to Traverse City, Rich calls northern Michigan home. Rich joined Floor Covering Brokers Carpet One in 2014 and has filled various roles including sales, scheduling, and most currently as a vital part of our warehouse staff. His skills and dedication have earned him promotion to Warehouse Manager. Rich has attended Mohawk University where he acquired a deep knowledge of product selection, measuring, installation, and customer service. Rich has three grown children and four grandchildren.

Originally from southeast MI, Kevin moved to Traverse City in 2021 and joined the Floor Covering Brokers Carpet One team. After serving as a warehouse worker/delivery driver, Kevin quickly advanced to Installation Manager in January 2022. Prior to working in the Flooring Industry, Kevin was a Police Officer for ten years in the Lansing, MI area. During that time, he was a Detective for three years, and a SWAT operator for six years. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University. He and his wife have a son and a dog named Frank. In his free time, Kevin keeps busy with home renovation projects, exploring northern Michigan, mountain biking, running, snowboarding, playing Euchre and taking road trips with his family. Kevin is a huge Detroit sports fan as well as a massive MSU Spartan fan.

Jim has been part of our team since 1986, bringing decades of flooring expertise to every role he’s held. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy as a submariner, he began his career as an installer, working that trade for over 35 years, later became our Measuring Specialist, and now supports our warehouse with the same knowledge and dedication that have defined his career. A Traverse City native, Jim enjoys fly fishing, kayaking, and spending time with his wife, five children, and 19 grandchildren.

Carson joined our warehouse team in 2026 and helps keep every project moving by managing incoming and outgoing materials and preparing deliveries for our installation crews. A Traverse City native, he developed hands-on mechanical skills through the Career Tech Center’s auto repair program. Outside of work, Carson enjoys spending time with his family and two dogs, and can often be found fishing, climbing, or working out at the gym.

'Robbie' is a valuable asset in our warehouse, where he assists with jobsite deliveries, flooring tear-outs, and shipping and receiving of installation materials. With a passion for cooking, Robbie loves to share his chef skills while testing new recipes and opens his home to an ongoing stream of foreign exchange students.

A native of Traverse City MI, Michael now lives in Kingsley with his girlfriend, two young children, four dogs and 12 chickens! His background includes a long-run, 14-year kitchen management gig, that taught him a wide range of skills, including leadership, business management, people management, problem solving and customer service. We welcomed Michael to the team the fall of 2025 and know he will be a motivational force within our team. In his free time, Michael enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, target shooting and drums… anything outdoors!

Doug has amassed an amazing 40+ year career in flooring installation, which he started in his hometown of Lansing, MI. After heading north to Traverse City, he worked over 30 of those years with Carpet Galleria, earning certification from Karastan Floors, and later joining Floor Covering Brokers Carpet One after their acquisition of the local store. His skills are seriously precise and quality-focused, leaving clients with complete satisfaction in their flooring job. He is now responsible for the ins and outs of our warehouse, helping keep workflow and materials in line. In his spare time, Doug likes anything to do with motorcycles—riding, tinkering and traveling!

A Kalkaska native, Christian has been part of our installation team since 2021, bringing a strong background in the flooring industry, specializing in hard surface flooring, carpet tile, and cork tile installations. Now living in the Traverse City area, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his two dogs, whether kayaking, hiking, fishing, or camping.

With a strong background in landscaping, roofing, and tilework, Austin joined our installation team in 2017 and has proven to be a top-quality employee with excellent results on his installation projects. He lives in Kalkaska with his wife, Kathleen, and their two young children, plus a newborn baby July 2026! Outside of work, Austin enjoys exploring Northern Michigan with his family, fishing, rock hunting along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and visiting scenic overlooks.

Ben has worked for us alongside his father, Brian since 2021, developing expertise in hard surface flooring installation and craftsmanship. A Northern Michigan native living in Honor, he brings precision and attention to detail from his background as a machinist. Outside of work, Ben enjoys fishing, playing guitar, and spending time with Ford trucks.

With nearly 30 years of flooring installation experience, Brian has been crafting beautiful floors for our customers since 2015. Known for his exceptional workmanship, he also enjoys mentoring the next generation of installers—including working alongside his son, Ben. Outside of work, Brian can often be found on the golf course or restoring his classic car.

Doug joined our installation team in 2025, bringing with him decades of flooring experience… he learned the trade at a mere 20 years old! Doug has a reputation for hard work, teamwork and precision. He and his wife have two grown sons and four dogs. When he’s not installing floors, Doug enjoys fishing, golfing, disc golf, and riding ATVs.

Justin has been part of our team since 2014, building more than a decade of flooring experience after starting in our carpet cleaning and warehouse departments. Today, as a flooring Installer, he is known for meticulous workmanship, attention to detail, and commitment to quality installations. Justin and his wife are raising their young daughter in Northern Michigan, where they enjoy spending time outdoors together.

Preston joined our installation team in 2022 and specializes in hard surface flooring, carpet tile, and cork tile installations. A Northern Michigan native, he brings a strong hands-on background in landscaping, excavation, and automotive work, along with a commitment to quality craftsmanship. Outside of work, Preston enjoys working on vehicles, tackling home improvement projects, and is looking forward to marrying fiancée, Kaila, in October 2026.

With more than 30 years of flooring installation experience, Jason has been a valued member of our team since 2019. Jason has been a Traverse City resident for most of his life, having moved up from Detroit at a young age. He has worked in the flooring industry “since he could walk”. Jason is known for his skill, craftsmanship, and dedication to quality installations. Jason lives with his wife, Michelle, and their dog, and enjoys water sports and a friendly game of cornhole in his free time.

A second-generation flooring installer, Sam brings more than 30 years of experience and exceptional craftsmanship to every project. Since joining our team in 2022, he has earned a reputation for delivering beautiful, expertly installed floors. Sam lives in Northern Michigan with his wife, has three children and two cats, and enjoys fishing, skiing, and bird watching. Flooring is truly a family tradition—his brother Jason and son Carson are also valued members of our team.

With more than 35 years of flooring installation experience, Marc is known for his exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. A Karastan Certified installer, he has spent three decades helping Carpet Galleria customers enjoy beautifully installed floors. A Traverse City native, Marc lives locally with his wife, Janet, and enjoys spending time with their two daughters, playing hockey, and cheering on the University of Michigan.