Summary of the 2024 Spring Mid-Year Meeting

FCICA hosted the 2024 Spring Mid-Year Meeting at the Dalton Convention Center in Dalton, GA, March 11-13. The Meeting provided flooring professionals - contractors, distributors, manufacturers and industry partners - an opportunity to meet with, learn from and network with one another.  FCICA is pleased to produce the Spring Mid-Year Meeting and serve its membership and all commercial flooring professionals. The attendees, education presenters, product demos, Shaw and Mohawk plant tours, generous silent auction donations and sponsorship support made the event possible. 

The mission of FCICA is to help make commercial flooring contractors successful through expert education, sharing best practices and professional networking. We hope the educational sessions, speakers, product demos, plant tours and networking advanced each attendee's success.

Monday - Tuesday, March 11-12 Summary

i4F Patents & Technologies Product Demo

Level Floors Education Session, Seth Pevarnik, ARDEX

Day One of the Spring Mid-Year Meeting opened with an afternoon Welcome Gathering where attendees reunited and socialized. The first of four education sessions followed. Seth Pevarnik, ADREX Americas presented 'Dead Level Floors - Learn How to Go From Flat and Smooth to Dead Level '. Thank you to ARDEX Americas for sponsoring this education session. The education session was followed by a product demo from i4F Patents and Technologies. The schedule then included two FCICA committees meetings - CIM Steering Committee and the Membership Committee where they discussed policies and membership advancement. Day One concluded with a Welcome Reception and Dinner.

Pat Kelly, FCICA Chairman Welcomes Attendees

Kelley Fain, Shaw Industries Keynote Address

Recruiting and Retaining Education Panel Presentation

H.B. Fuller/TEC Product Demo

Taylor Adhesives Product Demo

Custom Building Products Product Demo

Tuesday, Day Two of the Spring Mid-Year, opened with a welcome from FCICA Chairman Pat Kelly, Synergy Flooring. The keynote address from Kelley Fain, Executive Vice President, Commercial Division, Shaw Industries followed where he spoke on current industry challenges and opportunities. The Keynote was sponsored by Shaw Industries, a 30+ year member and generous FCICA supporter. The remainder of the day held back to back education sessions and product demos. In between sessions and over lunch, attendees socialized and networked. The full list of education sessions, demos and committee meetings were:

• Education Session: Dead Level Floors – Learn How to Go From Flat and Smooth to Dead Level presented by Seth Pevarnik, Director of Technical Services, ARDEX Americas. This education session was sponsored by a generous contribution from ARDEX Americas. 
• Keynote Address presented by Kelley Fain, Executive Vice President, Commercial Division, Shaw Industries
• Education Session: Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of Flooring Professionals, moderated by Ed Metcalf, President, Metcalf Advisor Services with panelists, James Lockwood, CIM, Quality and Productivity Manager, Consolidated Flooring, Ben Walker, Director of Client Services, Go Carrera and Jose Gonzalez, CIM, Partner, Preferred Flooring MI. 
• Education Session: Recycling in the Flooring Industry – How it's Done presented by Rachel Palopoli, Director of Circular Economy, Tarkett and Bob Peoples, Executive Director, C.A.R.E
• Education Session: The Evolution of Estimating, presented by Kathy Case, Director of Business Development, Quantify North America and Anastasia Adams, National Estimating Manager, Diverzify. This education session was sponsored by a generous contribution from H.B. Fuller/TEC.
• Product Demonstrations from i4F Patents & Technologies, H.B. Fuller/TEC, Taylor Adhesives, Custom Building Products and LATICRETE International
• Membership Meeting
• CIM Steering Committee Meeting
• Contractor Round Table
• Associates Round Table Committee Meeting
• Education Committee Meeting

Recycling Education Session Rachel Palopoli, Tarkett and Bob Peoples, CARE

Estimating Education Session, Anastasia Adams, Diverzify

Wednesday, March 13 - Summary

Shaw Plant Tour

Shaw Plant Tour Group Photo

Wednesday, March 13 featured two plant tours hosted by member companies, Shaw Industries and Mohawk. Contractors and other eligible flooring professionals toured one of four Shaw sites, followed by a lunch. In the afternoon, Mohawk hosted the group for two plant tours. The day ended with a reception and dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn. A special thank you to our tour hosts Shaw Industries and Mohawk for opening their facilities to our attendees and their generous hospitality.

Mohawk Light Lab Tour

Mohawk Tour