Howard Brodsky
Co-Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, CCA Global Partners
“Throughout my career, I have felt that businesses should be more than profit centers,” said American entrepreneur Howard Brodsky. “While profit is important, it is equally, if not more important that businesses be a force for good.”
A pioneer of the cooperative movement, Brodsky has dedicated his career to helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses by providing the scale and resources they needed to compete. His campaigns for inclusivity have opened doors for thousands to experience opportunity, wealth, and in the broadest sense, hope. Brodsky co-founded CCA Global Partners in 1984, bringing scale to family businesses by creating an international enterprise of 15 unique cooperative businesses in multiple sectors of the economy. Together, they serve one million small businesses in four countries and 20,000 childcare centers across America.
Through his efforts, Brodsky emerged as a leader in the global cooperative movement, founding Cooperatives for a Better World (CFBW), a not-for-profit dedicated to sharing the benefits of shared ownership and the cooperative business model. CFBW has partnered with cooperatives in 14 countries, reaching over a quarter of the world population. An accomplished author and speaker, Brodsky also advocates for marriage and family, performing wedding ceremonies as a justice of the peace. Brodsky holds at B.A in Economics from Wesleyan University and is a resident of Manchester, New Hampshire.
Jeanne Matson
Retiring President & CEO, Starnet
In her 12 years at Starnet Commercial Flooring, most recently as president and CEO from 2017-2019, Jeanne Matson has worked tirelessly to build membership, strengthen relationships among members and vendor partners, and help members become more profitable. “I have great joy,” Matson said. “The great thing I discovered here is how great the people are; it’s been a great pleasure for me.”
Starnet is the largest purchasing cooperative of independent commercial flooring contractors in the United States and Canada. She joined in 2007 when the economy was experiencing a deep recession, and during her tenure, the organization enjoyed strong financial growth while strategically adding net 20 new members to ensure representation in all geographies within North America. In addition, Matson and the Starnet team developed a comprehensive training and education program for the members and preferred vendors.
Prior to joining the group, she was an executive at the Clairol division of Procter & Gamble (P&G.) where she ultimately serving as the general manager of P&G Professional Beauty Products, a division which serviced the professional salon channel in North America. Matson is active in her community as a volunteer EMT with Darien EMS-Post 53, in addition to a variety of local and national boards and foundations, including FCIF. Matson holds a B.A. degree from Miami University (Ohio) and a M.B.A. from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. She resides in Darien, Connecticut.
Dana Teague
VP, Informa Markets
As vice president for Informa Markets, Dana Teague has been integral in creating events for the flooring industry that bring together its people and grow businesses. Teague has risen from a show director to vice president, now totaling 19 years of service to the floor covering industry and over 30 years in the events industry. Teague has been an integral part of The International Surface Event’s (TISE) growth and development which directly affects the manufacturers and suppliers who provide products and services to the industry and the professionals connecting and distributing those products to the world.
Teague has been instrumental in ensuring that the event makes a positive impact by supporting worthy industry causes such as the Floor Covering Industry Foundation. Her loyalty to the event, her heart for the industry the event serves, and her vision for developing strategies that create impact are impressive.
In addition, Teague manages the AIA Conference on Architecture and four design portfolio events overseas in the United Kingdom. Teague gives back to the industry through service on the board of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), where she currently serves as vice president of SISO Women. She is also a member of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events and a board member of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation. She has been honored as a Trade Show Executive Gold 100, Trade Show Executive Fastest 50, and as a Top 10 Woman in Flooring. Teague resides in Dallas, Texas.