Rick Hooper Named Winner of CRI 2020 Smrekar Award

Dalton, GA, November 11, 2020-The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) presented the Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award to Rick Hooper, Shaw Industries vice president and chief legal & advocacy officer, at the annual membership meeting. Hooper also won the award in 2011.

Hooper has served as president of CRI’s government issues committee and vice-chairman of the CARE/EPR Panel. He has served as the carpet industry’s lead negotiator with California on the AB 2398 Carpet Product Stewardship legislation.

The Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award was established by Milliken & Company in 1998 to honor the late Dr. Joe Smrekar who volunteered on many CRI committees. Dr. Smrekar set the standard for service to The Carpet and Rug Institute and the carpet industry. CRI staff members chose the recipient of the annual award.

Other honorees recognized for their years of service at the 2020 meeting included David Wardlaw, technical director for Royal Thai; David Repp, vice president of finance, commercial for Mohawk; Russ Delozier, director of sustainability for Engineered Floors; and Joe Foye, Mohawk Industries divisional general council.

Print the Article