Description

FCICA Regional Meeting Suwanee, GA 

FCICA is hosting a regional event offering education and networking for commercial flooring contractors in Suwanee-Atlanta area. 

Registration is open - and FREE to attend! 

Commercial flooring contractors are invited to meet in-person at Atlanta Flooring Design Centers' Suwanee location on Friday, August 18 for a one-day event, 8:45 am - 2:15 pm ET. 

The event will provide an opportunity for commercial flooring contractors to network, discuss industry topics, learn from one another and hear how they can leverage FCICA member benefits to advance training, certification and business development. 

Event Schedule

Education Session: Wood 101

Presented by John Neugent, Director of Sales and Product, Cain & Bultman 

This course teaches the advantages hardwood flooring provides for both residential and commercial use. Hardwood flooring is unique because it is organic and therefore poses different requirements for installation. Since wood has been used as flooring for centuries, it presents a trusted alternative to current flooring options. Attendees will learn about its history, various types, the different species of wood, advantages to its use, sustainability and the required maintenance, once installed. 

John Neugent has over 35 years of flooring industry experience in training, distribution and manufacturing. Prior to his current role as the Director of Sales and Product at Cain & Bultman, John was the Director of Training at DuChateau and the Corporate Trainer at Armstrong Premium Hardwood.  Cain & Bultman was founded in 1924. The company is also known as the creator of Norwood Hill Fine Flooring Solutions. For nearly 100 years, Cain & Bultman has distributed flooring in the Southeast US.

Adhesives and Moisture
Presented by Patrick Whaley, Regional Sales Manager Stanley Stephens Company  and Sonny Callaham, Technical Director, Divergent Adhesives

This session will cover the long-standing and challenging issue of addressing moisture and how the right adhesives can tackle the problem. 

Sonny Callaham has over 32 years in the floor covering industry, starting as an installer and is currently the Technical Director for Divergent Adhesives. Sonny is the co-founder and Board Chair for NAFCT and carries multiple industry certifications including CFI, IICRC, ICRI and NAFCT. He specializes in forensic investigation for complaints resulting in floor debonding and has been involved with claims from all sides - installer, distributor and manufacturer. Divergent Adhesives was established by industry veterans with a keen desire to produce the highest quality adhesives on the market. Divergent offers products for resilient, wood, carpet and moisture mitigation. Divergent's product lines cover just about every application you need.  

Patrick Whaley has been a flooring professional for over 20 years having held previous flooring positions prior to his current role as Regional Sales Manager GA and AL with Stanley Stephens, where he as been for 6 years. Stanley Stephens Company has been a distributor of commercial flooring and walls since 1977. Headquartered in Bristol, PA, they have 9 distribution centers on the East Coast. We have experienced monumental growth in the Atlanta region over the past three years and looking forward to future growth in the next few years.

Product Demo - The Resurgence of Laminate Through New Innovative Technologies

Presented by Karel Vercruyssen, President, US Mills

Flooring Supplies - Basics Involving Floorcovering Installations, Product Demo

Presented by Tom Talty, Account Executive, JJ Haines

In this product demo session, Tom Talty will highlight several floorcovering products and tools necessary to ensure a successful installation.

Tom Talty, JJ Haines Account Executive, has worked in the flooring industry since 1998. Prior to his current role, Tom held the position as the sales representative for several flooring companies.  

Founded in 1874 as a general store in Upperville, Virginia, by John James Haines, JJ Haines, one of the oldest privately held companies in America, is the largest floor-covering distribution company in the country with operations covering the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. JJ Haines provides a broad product portfolio of leading brands from the best manufacturers of solid or engineered wood options, laminate, vinyl, ceramic tiles, and carpeting. 

A Better Tile Installation - Large Format Mortar and Grout, Product Demo

Presented by Mike Glass, Sales Representative - GA/SC, MAPEI Corporation and Sandy Fowler, Senior Vice President, Southern Wholesale Flooring

This session will cover industry standards for installing large format tiles and the mortar that supports them. The demo will address common grout problems and how to avoid them. 

Mike Glass has worked at MAPEI for 10 years as the GA/SC territory Sales Representative - increasing MAPEI’s influence and industry impact. He has led numerous hard surface and soft surface product demonstrations and trainings including surface prep and moisture mitigation.  

Sandy Fowler has been with Southern Wholesale Flooring for 34 years, starting first as a Territory Sales Representative in 1989, then VP of Sales and Marketing and now in her current position as Senior Vice President where she leads the company’s sales, operations, marketing and product sourcing. Southern Wholesale Flooring, founded in 1952, is family owned company, headquartered in Kennesaw, GA. It is a full service distributor offering multiple product lines including wood, LVP, all types of underlayment, carpet cushion, tools and supplies.

The Regional Meeting Suwanee, GA is the 4th such meeting FCICA has held. Previous regional meetings were held in Wayland, MI (November 2022), Baltimore, MD (May 2022) and Atlanta, GA in (April 2021). The meetings are part of FCICA’s regional outreach efforts to engage current members and introduce the association to nonmembers.

Registration - If you are a commercial flooring contractor and you would like to attend, registration is free and open to both members and nonmembers of FCICA. Please register by 5 pm Wednesday, August 16. 

The event will be hosted at: Atlanta Flooring Design Centers 

Location:  

Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, Builder Services

3660 Swiftwater Park Dr.

Suwanee, GA 30024*

* 40 miles outside of Atlanta

FCICA is grateful to Atlanta Flooring Design Centers (AFDC) for their support and for hosting the Regional Meeting Suwanee, GA. 

Are you at Certified Installation Manager (CIM)? Earn continuing education credit (CEU) toward your CIM renewal requirements by attending FCICA events. Visit www.fcica.com/CIM for more information.