Erica Akel 

Regional Manager

Anyone who has had a chance to work with Erica knows how dedicated she is to helping her customers have the very best shopping experience. Her flooring knowledge and customer service shows from start to finish. She previously lived and worked in Atlanta as an Account Manager at an international digital advertising technology company. In her spare time, Erica likes to stay active and enjoys fitness. She also loves spending time with her family and friends, live music, and art. You could say she is a spontaneous person as she once booked a trip to Vietnam the day before and went backpacking for 10 days.

Stephen Gessner (Little Rock)

Flooring Consultant & Project Manager

Stephen started his career in the flooring industry as a helper, spreading glue for a hardwood installer. He learned to set tile and then worked his way up to a residential sales position. After four years, Stephen moved to the commercial division as a project manager, where he worked for three years. Akels allowed Stephen to move back to residential flooring, which is his true passion. He focuses on making the process of upgrading your home stress-free and fun by ensuring that you don’t have to worry about the details, and enjoys helping you make your home beautiful.

Michelle Taylor (Sherwood)

Flooring Consultant & Project Manager

Michelle graduated from UCA with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science. While she earned her degree, she also completed the Interior Design program. Michelle has ten years of experience in the flooring industry and has worked with Akels for two years. She assists in product selection on the showroom floor by providing product knowledge and design opinions. Interior design has been a love of hers since she was very young, and she enjoys helping others visualize the hidden potential in their current space.