Meet Steve & Thelma

Meet Steve Wright

Steve founded Champion Hardwood Floors in 1995 after working for Prewitt Sports Floors from 1991 to 1994, and as technical advisor for Junckers Hardwood USA division in Anaheim, CA.

Prior to that he was a general contractor (1986) specializing in Finish Carpentry. He began his career in Rough Framing on commercial and residential projects. Woodshop from junior and senior high school is where he first became interested in woodworking.

Steve has worked with wood his entire adult life.

Woodworking has always been his passion and installing projects to the highest level of appearance, coupled with longevity and structural integrity. These are the primary reasons to give the customer more than they expect. The woodshop classes were instrumental in building something right.

In the mid to late 90’s Steve was splitting his time between sports floors and expanded into commercial retail installations.

One of the largest proprietary contracts was with Pacific Construction of San Francisco. This entailed a large amount of the floors for the Restoration Hardware chain of stores across the US. With his crew they installed over 450,000 square feet of Junckers Hardwood in 80 stores nationwide. That experience taught him that no matter what the problem was, there was always a solution. That experience has helped along the way.

After 9/11, travel became difficult, and coupled with the recession, Steve decided to focus strictly on the Southern California athletic flooring market. He continues that focus to the present day.

Today, Steve no longer wears a nail apron, but oversees the workers that perform the work to the same exacting standards he held when he was the one installing and refinishing the floors.

Meet Thelma Wright

Thelma has been the brains and backbone of Steve’s businesses since they married in 1985.

Through the years, she has taken care of the books, payroll, including public works projects, dealing with prevailing wage. She is integral in accounts receivables and payables, as well as ordering materials for each job. She is self-taught in undertaking take-offs on paper plans as well as computer plans. Making phone calls to all existing clients and potential clients. She has learned a great deal working in the construction field and enjoys the challenges.