CIM Spotlight: FCICA Introduces Certified Installation Manager and CIM Committee Chair, Scott McDonald

A core tenet of FCICA is education. The Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program is FCICA's industry certification, a professional educational program and the only certification available to floorcovering installation project managers.

The CIM Program consists of eight video modules presented by industry experts who speak from years of floor covering experience. Viewing the modules is the first part of the Program. The second component is the requirement to earn CEUs to maintain one's CIM designation. Like any industry certification earning continuing education units or credits is required. Once a candidate completes the CIM Program, he/she must earn 30 CEUs every 3 years. Credits fall under different categories: Business, Installation, Moisture Mitigation, Polished Concrete, Standards - to name a few.

FCICA is proud of the CIM Program as an important educational training and resource. Since it was launched in 2015, over 550 industry professionals have enrolled.

One CIM is Scott McDonald, President, Lansing Tile & Mosaic. Scott completed the CIM Program in 2022. He is also the CIM Committee Chair, providing leadership and guidance for the CIM Program and its CIMs. Scott answers the spotlight questionnaire in this CIM Spotlight feature.

How did you enter the flooring industry field?

I entered the industry directly when I acquired Lansing Tile & Mosaic, Inc. from its founders. Prior to that, and partly why I was interested in the flooring industry, I had sold input materials to the industry and had loosely followed it over the years.

What does your current position entail? Briefly describe your work.  

As the president and owner, my primary responsibility is to ensure the Lansing Tile & Mosaic team is aligned around our primary objectives, mission and goals. Personally, I focus on engaging with the industry, building strong relationships with our key suppliers, and ensuring the team has the resources and support they need to do what we do best - deliver high-quality flooring and wall tile installations for our customers.

Why did you become a Certified Installation Manager?

Being new to the flooring industry and having years of experience in and around construction and building products, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing any of the nuances of the flooring industry as it related to the core processes that drive results and contribute to serving customers well. Project management, more specifically installation management, is where the rubber meets the road for us. Becoming a CIM, and the training specific to these core activities, was an accelerator for my learning curve.

Has there been an instance the CIM training helped you with a project? 

I try not to get too involved in the day to day execution of our projects. The Lansing Tile & Mosaic team, most of which are also CIM’s, are highly experienced and capable. But when I do need to dig in, the CIM training and continuing education helps me to understand where the process has broken down, or why we have either won or lost at the critical steps inside of the installation execution process.

What about your work inspires you?

The people who I work with. The opportunity to develop the Lansing Tile & Mosaic team and our culture in a way that creates sustainable opportunity and security for our families is a primary driver for me - as is building relationships and learning from the great people in the flooring industry who I interact with every day. This includes FCICA, Starnet and our customers and suppliers. I constantly learn from the entire flooring industry ecosystem and hope I can pay some of this back by sharing what I have learned over my long career, both within and outside of the flooring industry.

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