FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association and CFI, Certified Flooring Installers International, are excited to share they held a successful CFI FCICA 2024 Convention and Trade Show, October 1 - 3 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida - the second year the two organizations partnered for a joint convention.
Flooring industry professionals - contractors, distributors, installers, manufacturers, retailers, consultants and flooring industry organizations - attended three full days featuring an opening keynote speaker, a closing industry panel, twelve education sessions, six product demonstrations, a trade show showcasing 64 exhibitors, networking opportunities and leadership committee meetings. All, to advance the success of CFI and FCICA members and put into action their shared mission to provide education and support to advance the floor covering industry and its people.
Tuesday evening's Welcome/Opening Reception, sponsored by Mohawk / Performance Accessories, formally kicked off the meeting. There Steve Abernathy, CFI Executive Director and Pat Kelly, President of Synergy Flooring and FCICA Board Chairman, welcomed attendees to the event, thanked them for coming and attendees reunited at the social gathering. Earlier in the day, 74 attendees participated in a golf tournament featuring prizes from golf sponsors. Two optional education sessions were held that afternoon.
Hand Sewing of Woven Carpet Presented by P.J. Arthur, Founder, NFIC, National Fiber Installers Certification
Uniclic & Unidrop: The Most Reliable SPC / WPC Flooring Locking Systems Presented by Floris Koopmans, Sales and Marketing Director, Unilin Technologies *Sponsored by Unilin Technologies
Wednesday, Day One of the Convention, kicked off with the Opening Keynote 'How to Build a Healthy Contracting Business' presented by Geoff Gordon, Executive Director, FUSE Commercial Flooring Alliance, with an introduction by Jeffrey Johnson, FCIS Business and Marketing Manager, MAPEI Corporation - the Opening Keynote sponsor. CFI and FCICA industry updates followed where attendees learned about each of the organizations and how they work to support the flooring industry. Steve Abernathy, CFI Executive Director and Pat Kelly, FCICA Board Chairman, shared their respective organizational updates. In the CFI update Steve announced their success with 9 chapters and 5 in process chapters. In the FCICA update and annual meeting, Pat recognized and thanked outgoing FCICA board chairs and announced the new incoming committee chairs and board members (The full details in the news release linked here.) The day continued with five education sessions and three product demos. During lunch, there was a NextGen Lunch breakout group of up and coming flooring professionals who participated in a lively round table discussion, facilitated by Mike Forcade of Diverzify, about communication styles amongst the different generations. Wednesday's Educational Sessions and Product Demos are listed below.
Gaining Confidence in Installing Modular Products Presented by David Carter, CIM, Field Tech Manager, Quality Assurance, Milliken & Company
The Law of Construction Subcontracts Presented by Sloan Bailey, Attorney, Bailey Law Partners, LLP
Women in The Shero Playbook: The BIG Ask for Advancement Presented by Women In the Floorcovering Industry WIFI
LVP Stair Solutions, Trims and Transitions Presented by Sandon Carson, Technical Field Service Manager, Mohawk/Performance Accessories, CFI Certified Trainer
Introduction to Processing and Polishing of Concrete and Cementitious Toppings Presented by Craig Morris, Business Development Manager, ARDEX Surfaces, ARDEX Americas
Product Demo - i4F Patents & Technologies Product Demo - Shaw Industries Product Demo - TOGAL.AI
At 3:30 pm the Trade Show doors opened. Attendees enjoyed dinner while meeting, networking and conducting business with 64 exhibitors representing leaders in manufacturing, distribution, retail, flooring technology and industry organizations. Thank you to all the exhibitors for participating in the Trade Show.
Thursday, Day Two, opened with a welcome from Marcus Guy, Totalworx Director, Shaw Industries and presentations from silent auction donor company representatives. Marlene Morin, Senior Director of Floor Covering with Sika Corporation and sponsor of the Closing Panel Session spoke about the importance of proper training and introduced the Closing Session moderator, Jesse Tranel, CIM, President, DCO Commercial Floors and panelists James Lockwood, CIM, Quality and Productivity Manager, Consolidated Flooring; Danny Sherman, South East Sales Manager, Uzin Utz North America; Rod Von Busch, CIM, Vice President, Operations, C.D.I. Floors; and John Steier, Steier Flooring for the 'Developing your Career Through Education, Training and Certification' education session. Thursday featured five additional education sessions and three product demos.
How to Install Printed Carpet Presented by Bruce Gentry, Field Service Manager, Mohawk, CFI Master Installer Innovations in Estimating Presented by Kathy Case, Director of Business Development, Quantify North America and Anastasia Adams, National Estimating Manager, Diverzify Flooring Inspections Presented by Scott Bohaker, Owner/Operations Manager, BoMont Flooring Services
Introduction to Blueprint Reading Presented by Kathy Case, Director of Business Development, Quantify North America and Anastasia Adams, National Estimating Manager, Diverzify
Carpet Backing Identification and Installation Guidelines Presented by Jerry Miller, CFI Master II and Inspector, Miller's Flooring Consultants
Product Demo - Schönox HPS North America Product Demo - TEC / H.B. Fuller Construction Products Product Demo - ARDEX Americas
During the Awards Lunch, the golf awards, 50/50 raffle winner and trade show traffic builder winners received their awards. Thereafter, Pat Kelly presented four CIM Champion Awards to companies for their support of the CIM Program over the past year. Recipients were Diverzify, Fishman Flooring Solutions, Michael Halebian & Company and Shaw Industries. Next, Mike Newberry, CIM, FCICA Past Chairman, presented Pat Kelly, Outgoing FCICA Chairman, with an engraved crystal gavel in appreciation of his inspiring and successful leadership of FCICA over the past five years.
Steve Abernathy, Executive Director, CFI, presented Roland Thompson, Thompson Flooring and Installation, with the Cruzin' and Crushing Award. Next, Dave Garden, Executive Director of Education, CFI, presented the CFI awards including the Next Generation Award to Jose Molar, NAJD Company LLC and Jorge Orta, Escalon; the Chris Davis Award to Corey Dickerson, Wolff Tools; the Charles Gress Award to John Steier, Steier Flooring; and the Hall of Fame Award was presented to Don Styka, Tarkett and Ray Knapp, Taylor Tools and Fred Chastain (posthumously).
The Convention concluded with the closing dinner reception - a Cheers Sports Bar themed reception "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" - a final social gathering that offered sport related games and karaoke. |
