FCICA Hosts the 2023 Annual Convention and Commercial Flooring Trade Show

FCICA, the Flooring Contractors Association, is excited to share it held a successful Annual Convention and Commercial Flooring Trade Show, March 27-29 at the El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, AZ.

Flooring industry professionals, commercial flooring contractors, distributors, manufacturers and consultants attended two full days featuring two keynote speakers, a trade show, four education sessions, six product demonstrations, networking opportunities and committee meetings - all to advance the success of FCICA members and put into action its mission. A total of 156 people registered to attend the event and 39 member companies exhibited at the Commercial Flooring Trade Show.

First time attendees, new members and their mentors attended the 'First Timer Reception' prior to the all attendee Monday evening Welcome Reception, kicking off the Convention. There, attendees reunited, socialized and networked at Sunset Point, a scenic outdoor area with the mountain range as backdrop.

Tuesday, the first full event day, FCICA Board Chair, Pat Kelly, Synergy Flooring, welcomed attendees and officially opened the event. The Opening Keynote from Rusty Joyce, President, Tarkett Commercial followed where he spoke on current industry challenges, opportunities and future outlook.

The keynote kick-off and opening remarks were followed by the FCICA business meeting at which Mr. Kelly recapped membership status, program initiatives and introduced the newly named board members. Of those programs, the CIM Program has grown. 2022 realized a record number of new CIMs and Program content is currently being updated by the CIM Steering Committee. Mr. Kelly recognized Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, Bonitz and DCO Commercial Floors as CIM Champions for having 15 or more employees who have attained CIM status. The day also included two education sessions, product demonstrations from Floorcloud and MAXXON and the Commercial Flooring Trade Show. In between sessions and over lunch, attendees socialized and networked. 

Tuesday, Convention Day 1 schedule included:

• Opening Keynote Session presented by Rusty Joyce, President, Tarkett Commercial
• FCICA Business Meeting
• Education Session 1: Using the FIT Manual to Train your Employees and Recruit New Ones, presented by Mike Keller, CIM, Director of Learning & Development, Jack Laurie Group
• Product Demonstrations from Floorcloud and MAXXON
• Education Session 2: Wall Tile Installation 101, Panel Discussion presented by Daniel Grant, CIM, Technical Field Representative, ARDEX Americas; Ben Lyke, Project Manager, Lansing Tile and Mosaic; Bob Wind, Director of Soft Goods, Welch Tile; moderated by Paul Stuart, Co-Founder, Go Carrera
• Commercial Flooring Trade Show

The Commercial Flooring Trade Show featured 39 members exhibiting their products and services to attendees and fellow exhibitors. The Trade Show concluded with a happy hour followed by the outdoor 'Starry Night in the Tucson Desert' reception with special guest, Burrito.

Convention Day 2 started with a Closing Keynote from Eric Fritsch, CIM, Commercial Sales Manager, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, who spoke about his professional flooring experience and advocacy for the CIM Program. The Closing Keynote was sponsored by MAPEI Corporation, a 24 year member and generous FCICA supporter. Jeff Johnson, FCIS Business and Marketing Manager, shared information about MAPEI and introduced Mr. Fritsch. Day 2 featured two education sessions, four product demonstrations, Next Gen lunch meeting and volunteer committee meetings to advance FCICA strategic goals and program initiatives.

Wednesday, Convention Day 2 schedule included:

• Closing Keynote Session presented by Eric Fritsch, CIM, Commercial Sales Manager, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers
• Education Session 3: Polished Concrete Applications, Best Practices and Resources, presented by Shane Jenkins, Regional Business Manager, Schönox; Wilmer Pressel, CIM, Labor Service Manager, Inside Edge Commercial Interior Services; Royal Wilbon, Concrete Specialist and Rory Saleh, Director of Sales, Sunbelt Rentals
• Education Session 4: Jobsite Communication Best Practices, Panel Discussion, presented by Jose Gonzalez, CIM, Partner, Preferred Flooring MI; Mike Keller, CIM, Director of Learning & Development, Jack Laurie Group and Jesse Tranel, CIM, Vice President, DCO Commercial Floors
• Product demonstration from ARDEX Americas, H.B. Fuller Construction/TEC, Sunbelt Rentals and MAPEI
• Next Gen Lunch Meeting led by Sonny Callaham, Technical Director, Divergent Adhesives
• CIM Steering Committee Meeting
• Associates Committee Meeting
• Education Committee Meeting

Day 2 of the Convention ended outdoors with the exciting Chef's Race Closing Reception where attendees competed in a margarita and salsa making competition, followed by dinner.

The final program was held on Thursday. FCICA Board of Directors conducted a board meeting to discuss Association business.

FCICA is grateful to the event attendees, presenters, exhibitors, donors and committee leaders. We want to thank our closing keynote sponsor, MAPEI Corporation, for their generous contribution, silent auction contributors, ARDEX Americas, Federated Insurance, Floorcloud, LATICRETE International, MAPEI Corporation, MAXXON, Sunbelt Rentals, Tarkett and Wagner Meters for their generous donations. Thank you to MAXXON for their event app sponsorship and Fishman Flooring Solutions for their product demo sponsorship. FCICA also recognizes the support of its Platinum and Gold Sponsor members.

A special thank you to our Opening Keynote Speaker, Rusty Joyce, Closing Keynote Speaker, Eric Fritsch, CIM, and education session presenters and moderators, Mike Keller, CIM, Daniel Grant, CIM, Ben Lyke, Bob Wind, Paul Stuart, Shane Jenkins, Wilmer Pressel, CIM, Rory Saleh, Royal Wilbon, Jose Gonzalez, CIM, and Jesse Tranel, CIM. Thank you for sharing your expertise and industry knowledge. Education is a core tenet of FCICA’s mission and Convention objectives.

We also thank our CIM Champions - Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, Bonitz, and DCO Commercial Floors, for their commitment to the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program.

A final thanks to the volunteer committee leaders who guide FCICA’s mission forward.

The Flooring Contractor Association is pleased to produce this event and serve its membership. Your attendance, exhibitions, presentations, donations and support make this event possible. Our mission is to help make commercial flooring contractors successful through expert education, sharing best practices and professional networking. We hope the education sessions, product demos, Trade Show and networking advanced your success.

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