Meet Our Family

While crawling on the floor at age two, Mark was angered by the bad seams on his parents' front room floor. It was evident from the beginning that carpet was in his blood. Starting at the young age of nineteen, he has climbed up the vertical ladder of the flooring business. Since opening a retail store in Lockport back in 1990 with his wife Tammy, he has never slowed down enough to look back. Today, Mark oversees everything "Creative Carpet & Flooring" as an ever-present body and keeps all staff informed and up-to-date on all things political.

Tammy, AKA… The Creative Carpet and Flooring air traffic controller. Nothing happens in or out without her knowing. Having raised five sons, she is a seasoned veteran of running a circus and keeping things organized and grounded. Married to Mark Sr. longer than Creative Carpet & Flooring has existed, she has been in the carpet business for as long as he has. Spending most of her time running ALL the back-bone workings of this company, she is spotted in the showroom from time to time to gather some coffee before retreating again to the Creative Carpet Underworld.

As a youngster, Mark Jr. started installing flooring to prepare him to carry on the Creative Carpet legacy his father built. Transferring from installation to sales in 2008, he now oversees the retail and commercial side of Creative Carpet & Flooring. His time is spent building systems, improving them, and then building more systems, scanning blueprints, making conference calls, and being late - unless it involves his clients. Mark is committed to the store's integrity and his clients' happiness. He is an exemplary example of how all companies should be run. He has two adorable daughters and four adorable sons.

Meet Jake Bouquet, our Chief Operations Manager and master of logistics! Like a cheetah in a Prius, he zips through his responsibilities, ensuring everything and everyone is perfectly in place. From overseeing receiving, shipping, and inventory to managing orders, Jake does it all with impressive attention to detail. What takes the average Joe eight hours, Jake wraps up by 9:00 AM, leaving him plenty of time to rock out on the guitar like his dad. Now, he’s also mastering dad life with his wife, Taylor, and their adorable baby girl, Ada. Life’s a song, and he’s hitting all the right notes!

In the warehouse hive, you will find Clay buzzing around on the forklift, in the Creative Carpet van, or making a delivery to a customer. Clay works side-by-side with his best friend, Tim Churchill. In rare moments of downtime, you might find them both lifting weights in the back of the warehouse. Clay has earned his personal training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is skilled at providing comprehensive fitness training. Clay’s proudest accomplishment is his son, Bryson. He looks forward to being a fantastic dad and growing old with Bryson’s mom.

Meet Cody, our Operations Maestro! A former flooring consultant and certified vinyl tile installer, Cody's expertise ensures our operations run as smoothly as possible. He's your go-to guy for all installation inquiries, scheduling, and logistics. Basically, if there's a flooring hiccup, he'll fix it faster than his four cats can knock over a plant! When he's not busy managing the nitty-gritty details of your flooring journey, Cody is wrangling his dog and four cats with his girlfriend, Ash. With his keen eye for detail and a dash of humor, Cody makes sure every project is a purr-fect success!

Alexis Giganti is the vibrant Administrative Assistant at Creative Carpet & Flooring, recruited by her mom, Dawn, who clearly knows how to keep it in the family! Bringing youthful energy to the back office, she’s the go-to expert for showroom samples and pricing, effortlessly juggling tasks while rolling her eyes at her mom’s antics. A former captain of her high school winter guard, Alexis can spin carpet rolls like a pro—she’s just waiting for the right song to make it a performance! When it comes to crafting coffee that fuels the team, she’s the undisputed champion, one cup at a time!

With over fifteen years of experience in flooring, cabinet design, and other design aspects, Autumn is passionate about transforming her clients' design dreams into reality. She thrives on the challenge of blending unexpected colors and patterns, showcasing her creativity in both her designs and her personal style. Autumn and Dana are not just coworkers but best friends, and their fashion choices often reflect each other's influence. You can visit Autumn in our Highland, Indiana, showroom to witness her dedication and let her inspire you to bring your own design visions to life with her expert guidance and flair.

Known as our "warehouse hero," Brad flies through the warehouse on the forklift (but not fast, in case OSHA is reading), organizing carpet rolls, moving pallets, and unloading trucks. Brad enjoys football, playing drums, and eating frog legs. We have let the frog legs slide, but getting past him being a Green Bay Packers fan has proven difficult. Since he is an ordained minister, we are afraid to harm him for fear we might get struck by lightning. So instead, we send him out in the snow in only a t-shirt because, apparently, he enjoys suffering in the cold.

Brian is no stranger to flooring, having spent most of his life in the industry. He started his flooring journey in 1992 with his father, who ran a flooring store on the north shore. Brian prides himself on his extensive knowledge of the flooring industry and shows it off every chance he gets. His dedication to staying on top of the latest design trends has provided residential and commercial clients with the most suitable flooring selections for their projects. Visit Brian at our Mokena, Illinois, showroom for an educational shopping experience and exemplary customer service.

Encouraged by a neighbor, Brittany Jonaitis began her career in flooring, gaining extensive experience in retail, new construction, and commercial projects. She holds a degree in mathematics and a master's in curriculum and instruction. Before entering the flooring industry, Brittany spent seven years teaching Algebra, which honed her problem-solving skills. However, her true passion lies in design, a field where she thrives and inspires others with her creativity. Brittany enjoys working closely with clients to create stunning spaces. Known for her attention to detail and personalized service, she is also a proud mom, considering her children her most outstanding achievement.

Admittedly, Carrie knows very little about flooring but enjoys a challenge. She has proven to be a quick learner and exceptional at numbers, planning, and people - a perfect fit for bookkeeping at Creative Carpet. After counting beans all day, she focuses on her daughters, Ginny and Lena, and her husband, Brian. The Dolans are active in their Tinley Park community and school, but family time is their priority. Reading books is a passion shared by the entire family. Carrie is a nerd with people skills - contact her anytime for all things Star Wars and Harry Potter-related.

Chris keeps all the scheduling running like clockwork and the installations and deliveries flowing smoothly. Chris and Mark Jr. are childhood friends, making Chris part Bouquet. Their longtime friendship allows Chris and Mark Jr. to work side by side, which is quite entertaining for the rest of the staff. However, it is not all fun and games, as the job is always done. Chris enjoys motorcycles, hiking, and traveling abroad. What he is most grateful for and his entire life revolves around are his two daughters... and Disney's "Frozen." Let it go, Chris... just let it go.

Clinton is an installer here at Creative. He is responsible for installations, measures, inspections - just about anything to help deliver appropriate flooring solutions to our customers. Just because Clinton installs flooring doesn’t mean he can cut a rug (Clinton “thinks” he can dance, but we suggest not asking him to.) During Clinton’s off time, he loves to do projects at home. Being a huge American history buff, he would travel back to the 1800s... if he could get his hands on a DeLorean. Clinton also enjoys Star Wars, fishing, golfing, football, baseball, and, most of all, being a dad.

Meet Dana Krizmanic, our fearless Flooring Consultant with over 15 years of experience in the flooring industry. Whether it’s large commercial spaces or quaint residential homes, Dana does it all! She’s tackled everything from assisted living facilities to bustling hospitals. However, she might cringe at the mere mention of Ghostbusters—especially when someone playfully quotes, “There’s no Dana, only Zuul!” Dana prefers her work to be hauntingly beautiful rather than spooky! For all your flooring and design needs, Dana is the expert to see. Visit her for private consultations at our Highland, Indiana showroom—ghosts not included!

Dave Coulam is a flooring wizard with over 35 years of experience, having traded military boots for installation shoes. This jack-of-all-trades has worn many hats—installer, salesperson, and manager. For the last two decades, he’s been the go-to guy for flooring repairs and replacements across various restoration and insurance companies. If disaster strikes—be it flood or fire—Dave will team up with you and your insurance to get your flooring back in shape. Fluent in Xactimate, he speaks the insurance lingo like a pro. Just remember to keep him away from Brad, our resident Packers fan—it’s a safety issue!

With her marketing efforts, Dawn helps potential customers realize that Creative Carpet & Flooring is the place to shop for all their flooring needs. If she is not on social media or doing something with the website, you will find her writing the monthly newsletter or working on the next big social event marketing Creative Carpet’s products and services. Dawn loves the friends she makes while interacting with customers and helping the community. She enjoys reading, writing, graphic design, and all aspects of music. When at home, you will find Dawn hanging out with her two corgi pups.

You know the saying about payables: they’re like laundry—just when you think you’re done, there’s always more! Enter Debi, our math enthusiast who kicked off her career in accounts payable right after high school. She finds pure joy in balancing the books, believing that the universe is in harmony when everything adds up. And when it doesn’t? Debi is on a mission to restore order, proving that math is indeed trustworthy. Outside the numbers, she loves her lakeside home and the great outdoors but saves her biggest cuddles for Hannah, her adorable American Eskimo pup.

Fernando Reyes began his flooring journey in 2012, installing carpet with his uncle while figuring out what career path to take. Twelve years later, he’s mastered everything from tile to vinyl installations. His proudest achievement? Raising his two daughters, Sophia and Jasmine — though expertly installed floors come close! Outside of work, Fernando is a man of diverse interests. He enjoys running, woodworking, and fishing. He’s also got big dreams of living on a farm surrounded by dogs. Need new flooring? Fernando’s got you covered — just don’t ask him to choose between his favorite floor and a steak taco! Picture arriving soon!

Life's most outstanding question, which came first, Gary Onate or carpet itself? With 40+ years in the industry and 20+ years of service with Creative, Gary is Creative's longest and most seasoned employee. He taught Mark Sr. how to install carpets, and they have stuck together for over 30 years. Gary is the "in-home" face for nearly every job running through the store - visiting almost every client's house, gathering measurements and information, and ensuring all orders and installations run smoothly. Gary spends his free time fishing and has single-handedly caught every large-mouth bass in a 300-mile radius of Chicago.

Gina (aka Gina Kabeena) is a Design Consultant at Creative Carpet & Flooring, helping customers make informed decisions about the flooring they choose. She learns the customer's individual needs and preferences to be able to provide excellent advice on what types of flooring would be appropriate for their space. In addition, she helps them explore different options to achieve their desired look. Speaking of "desired looks," Gina is a girl from the 80s who wants BIG HAIR to return and listens to "yacht rock" on the radio. Her FUN and bubbly personality will make your shopping experience like no other!

Mark C., as we call him, maintains the Highland, Indiana, showroom. Being the owner of a cabinetry installation company, he knows how to make a house a home and treats his customers like family. We're delighted to call him a member of the Creative family! If he ever won the lottery, Mark would give to a few charities, then disperse the rest among family and friends. Then Mark would start a charity and retire. We would love to see him hit that jackpot, but we won't let him retire! Come and visit Mark in our Highland showroom.

Michelle has traded in her frequent sales floor appearances for a more behind-the-scenes role, where she now runs the show and keeps things running smoothly. With her design background and sharp attention to detail, she oversees day-to-day operations and ensures the showroom is as polished as the flooring it showcases. While she's no longer helping clients pick out the perfect styles, she makes sure everything is in top form. Though you may not see her dancing through the showroom as often, her passion for delivering top-notch service hasn't changed. If you catch her on the floor, consider it your lucky day!

Tim Churchill began his career at Creative Carpet & Flooring, helping in the warehouse when we were relocating and super busy. However, his ability to lift full carpet rolls without using a forklift has secured Tim as a permanent Distribution Center Associate. He enjoys working out, lifting weights, and eating healthily. Tim plans on opening his own gym by 2030, where everyone at Creative will have free memberships. To show him how grateful we are, we shall continue to eat to our heart's content and be lazy. This will enable us to appreciate his gift to us to the fullest extent.

Trish Rosko, the maestro of customer delight at Creative, started her flooring adventure as a consultant, eventually becoming a customer service wizard with over 30 years in the game. She's the smooth operator, fixing issues before they appear, and her motto is "Treat others as you want to be treated." Family gatherings and her summer home in Michigan are her happy places. She's a hockey enthusiast, terrible joke teller, and Christmas tradition keeper—sharing Polish wafers and heartfelt wishes. Oh, and if you're ever looking for her, just remember: she's the introverted superhero behind the scenes, making sure everything runs seamlessly!