CRI Hears Economist, Gives Annual Award

Dalton, GA, Nov. 20, 2009--The Carpet and Rug Institute presented the Dr. Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award to Gary Asbury of Professional Testing Laboratory in Dalton.

The award was conceived by Milliken & Co. for CRI as a memorial to Smrekar, who died in 1998. Smrekar served CRI on numerous technical committees and boards as chairman, representative and member.

The award, presented at CRI's annual meeting, “recognizes individuals who have similarly shown unusual and exemplary service to the carpet and rug industry.”

Also at the meeting, Kennesaw State University professor Donald Sabbarese, Sabbarese, the director of KSU’s Econometric Center, said part of the federal bailout money should have been given to small banks, the kind that generally help small business.

He also predicted a U-shaped, drawn out economic recovery.