CFI Holds 16th Annual Conference

Kansas City, MO, Aug. 25, 2009--Certified Floorcovering Installers held its 16th annual conference Aug. 20 – 22.

CFI said attendance was up and there were plenty of new attendees.

The Master of Ceremonies was Bernie Madden, of Madden-McFarland Interiors of Leawood, Kan.

Adam Norton won the President's Award, established in memory of two deceased CFI presidents, Doug Amundson and Andrew Aufiero.

Tim Rawlins, Tim Provence and Rick Herr of Armstrong conducted a hands-on opportunity for heat welding of heat sensitive urethane coatings on sheetgoods.

Jon Namba and Robert Varden of CFI demonstrated the challenges that installers face with patterned carpet.

Alan Ellis, CFI Master-II of Council Bluffs IA and Jamie Sisk of Husqvarna demonstrated concrete polishing fundamentals.

Dick Schmidt of Johnsonite, CFI Master-II shared installation tips for working with rubber flooring and accessories.

The Future of Tackstrip Installation was presented by Gary Schwebemeyer, Rita Bockrath and Don Gauert of Duo-Fast.

Joe Cea, CFI Master and Technical Representative of Congoleum, shared techniques for working with custom tile installations.

Following the WFCA Leadership Conference, 48 members of the CFI Certification Team met to review the certification process and announce new plans for the next year. 

Bob Gillespie, Past President and CFI Master-II Installer, presented the Charles R. Gress Award.  This is the highest honor that a CFI installer can receive for commitment to the organization.

The 2009 inductees are Jim Cunningham, CFI Master Installer #2 of Kansas and currently employed by Carpet Cushions and Supplies; Andrew Smith, CFI #5402 of Georgia, employed by Mohawk in the technical services department; Robert Schurman CFI Master-II #9785 of Colorado, owner of Schurman Enterprises, a flooring installation workroom and organizer of many events in southern Colorado; and David Garden, CFI Master-II #6269 of Michigan, owner of Installation Services of Michigan.

At the CFI Business Meeting, the officers were unanimously elected to serve second terms.  The officers are Roy Davison (MO), President; Robert Varden (TX), Vice-President and Alan Ellis (IA) as Secretary.  Tony Buckhardt was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Certification Team.

Tony Buckhardt explained the founding of the George Buckhardt Memorial Fund in honor of his father.  Through this fund, numerous flooring installers have been assisted during difficult times.

(For more information, see today's interview on Floordaily.net.)

Related Topics:Armstrong Flooring, Mohawk Industries