Unstoppable People - Timothy Engen - Account Manager - Floor Coverings

Milliken’s Unstoppable People series highlights Milliken & Company associates who guide us to success and embody our values: integrity, excellence, innovation, sustainability, and people.

“I take pride in the fact that I've been with Milliken for 25 years and plan to retire with Milliken.”

We sometimes marvel at the contingent of associates who have been with Milliken for the long haul. Timothy is no exception. Joining the company more than two decades ago, Timothy manages the Northern California territory for Milliken’s Floor Covering Business—and has since he started in 1998.

For a native Northern Californian, landing a job in his home area was the dream. “A colleague from a previous company joined Milliken, and she knew I was ready for a change. She called and said, ‘Hey, Tim, there's an opportunity to get you back home.’” He transitioned from selling commercial furniture to selling commercial flooring and joined the Milliken team. Now, he works alongside a variety of sectors, covering everything from commercial offices to education and government, in a role that is constantly evolving.

“I spend my days calling on everyone from architects and designers to end users, dealers to general contractors. It changes every week but is always centered on showcasing Milliken’s flooring portfolio for commercial spaces. And there are pivots we make along the way. No two days are the same, and each year, we see shifts in the sectors that need the most support.

“What I enjoy bringing to customers is the advantages that Milliken flooring offers. Moisture is a big problem in the floor covering industry, and Milliken was the first company to really set the benchmark at a level that it is still at today. We have no relative humidity (RH) or pH limits; vapor breathes right through our carpet. So, consider the impact this can have in school districts. On Milliken carpet, the risk of mold is significantly decreased or mitigated altogether. Milliken carpets directly address that problem, which is a distinct advantage in the marketplace.”

That’s one way Milliken carpet can move the needle to create inviting spaces that contribute to overall wellness, but there are practical ways, too. “The cushion backing on Milliken carpets—a standard product attribute for all our carpets—helps improve acoustics in a space. It also supports the ergonomic needs of a sit/stand or fully standing commercial environment. But there’s also a wearability component with cushion-back carpets that many don’t realize.”

Over his career, Timothy has worked with Fortune 500 companies, helping them design or renovate spaces with tailored flooring solutions in mind. He brings a unique perspective to projects, encouraging customers and end users to consider how flooring can impact space in more ways than just on the floor plane.

“One project, the Oakland Airport project , renovated a complete terminal. We pulled out old Milliken carpet, installed 13 years ago, and replaced it with new Milliken carpet.” After pulling out the old Milliken carpet, it underwent a novel recycling process, creating recycled content that would be incorporated into new products. “This old carpet created new recycled fibers, and it went into other commercial construction materials as well. So, it [the old carpet] stayed within the industry, which is really cool.”

Even after 25 years here, Timothy values what Milliken stands for. “Integrity [one of Milliken’s core values] resonates the most with me. Milliken strives to be highly ethical. We’re one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies and have been since that list first came out. As a person, I try to live that type of life as well. You know, my reputation? It’s probably the most valuable thing that I own.”

Want to join our team of #UnstoppablePeople? Visit our careers webpage to learn more about your next opportunity.

Do you know an Unstoppable Person you’d like to recognize? Nominate them at [email protected].