Don Miller, President/CEO of Roppe Holding Company has been selected as a 2012 recipient of the Floor Covering News Al Wahnon Lifetime Achievement Award.  The award was presented at the headquarters of Roppe Holding Company in Fostoria, OH on Monday, March 12, 2012 in a surprise celebration in front of his family and employees.

Floor Covering News established the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 to recognize and celebrate those individuals who have not only made significant contributions to the floor covering industry, but more important, have worked toward its betterment and made a difference over a sustained period of time.  

“We wanted to honor those people who have dedicated their life to improving the floor covering industry,” said Steven Feldman, publisher of Floor Covering News. “We felt it was about time for us to have our own award annually honoring an individual who has made significant contributions. When you have someone who fits that criteria, AND has spent the better part of his or her life making a difference in their community, to society, to this world, you know you have a person more than worthy of the honor.  We chose Don Miller as our 2012 recipient because he exemplified that person.”

Miller began his career in the flooring industry in 1958 as an employee of the Roppe Rubber Company.  As one of 26 employees at that time, he was involved in all aspects of the small business.  When the founder Thony Roppe passed away unexpectedly in 1972, Miller and 6 other employees retained the company and struggled to continue to realize the dream of their predecessor.  The company prospered in the decades to follow due mainly due to the leadership of Miller.   Today, Roppe Rubber Company is known as Roppe Corporation and is a leading supplier of rubber and vinyl flooring products to the commercial flooring industry in the United States and throughout the world.  The formation of the Roppe Holding Company in the 90’s allowed for additional acquisitions and further strengthened the company for continued growth into the 21st century.

“I am very grateful to be honored with this award and it is not something that I take lightly.  I am humbled and thankful to my family and our employees for their dedication.  I did not win this award on my own – every one of you is a part of this and I thank you”, stated Miller.

Previous winners included Sandy Mishkin, president of CCA Global Partners, and Ralph Boe, currently president and CEO of Beaulieu of America.