We Hit the Floor Running: Our Partnership with RUSD & Shaw
Left to Right: Isi Ibarra & Brandon Munoz (MCF PMs), Armando Mendez (Ops Sup.), Diego Carillo (Ops Sup.), Reggie Royster (Dir. of M&O), Ana Mendez (Custodial Ops Sup.)
At Mike’s Custom Flooring (MCF), we believe strong partnerships are built on shared values.
Our relationship with Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) and Shaw Contract began with a simple idea: when you show up for your community and your workforce, great things follow. That’s why when we were invited to Custodial Development Day, we knew we had to be there.
Investing in People, Not Just Buildings
With districtwide renovations underway, RUSD has demonstrated that investing in schools also means investing in people. Serving nearly 42,000 students across 50+ schools, RUSD prioritizes not only classrooms but also its dedicated Maintenance & Operations staff. At the event, we saw firsthand how the district is strengthening its team through appreciation, professional development, and leadership training.
One standout exercise asked participants to line up by tenure. Sharing personal information can feel intimidating, but the outcome was powerful. Management reminded the group that—whether you’ve been on the job for one year or thirty—everyone plays an essential role. Later, participants shared the most important skill in their work: communication. Together, they agreed that overcommunicating is never a bad thing and that no question is a bad question. This simple but meaningful takeaway reinforced how vital trust, unity, and open communication are in keeping RUSD schools safe and clean.
For us, attending this event alongside our longtime partner Shaw Industries was truly an honor. Together, we joined training sessions and hands-on workshops, sharing our expertise in carpet maintenance and flooring care. At our booth, we offered a custom multipurpose tool—designed by our marketing team—as a practical giveaway staff could actually put to use in their day-to-day work. And to top it all off, one lucky participant walked away with our grand prize: a brand-new YETI cooler! 🎉
Driving Partnership Through Technology
Our partnership with RUSD goes beyond flooring and events—we’re also building connections through technology. Recently, we introduced Pumba Partners, an exclusive customer-facing portal connected to our main project management app, Pumba PM. Pumba Partners gives RUSD more visibility into their projects while mirroring the workflows we use internally at MCF. This tech-driven approach strengthens alignment, transparency, and trust, while giving RUSD the same tools we rely on to deliver consistent results.
We’d like to give a special thanks to Armando Mendez, Custodial Operations Supervisor, for his leadership and commitment to this partnership.
We’re excited to continue building our relationship with RUSD and evolving together. From supporting staff development to driving innovation with tools like Pumba Partners, our goal is to always hit the floor running—side by side with our partners.
