Anaheim, CA, December 22--Jim Walker, founding president of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association, will be inducted into the World Floor Covering Association’s (WFCA) Hall of Fame at a special ceremony held at Surfaces 2005 in Las Vegas.
A reception and induction ceremony will be held on January 27, 2005 at the Venetian Hotel and Casino starting at 7:30 am (prior to the Surfaces Town Hall Meeting).
The announcement was made by Riley Gazzaway, CFE, and chairman of the WFCA Industry Hall of Fame Committee (2004-2005).
Walker is the 32nd inductee into the Hall of Fame and the first installer to be so recognized. "This honor is long-over due and more than warranted," said Gazzaway. "Throughout Jim’s long career in the floor covering industry, his name has become synonymous with professionalism, integrity, leadership, education and training. His vision has added a whole new dimension to the way our products are bought and sold," he added.
Walker first entered the floor covering business 40 years ago when he started Walker’s Carpeting Inc., a Kansas City-based floor covering installation workroom representing residential and commercial clients nationwide. From that beginning, he has led an industry movement to promote quality installation. His tireless efforts on behalf of the floor covering installer have helped raise the level of professionalism of the trade and made installers a true partner with floor covering manufacturers and retailers.
In 1993, Walker led a group of concerned floor covering professionals and formed the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association, Inc. (CFI). That same year he was installed as its first president. The Association is dedicated to training floor covering installers and ensuring quality is delivered on every job.
"Very early on, Jim recognized customers would pay for quality installation," said Gazzaway. "His goal was to give installers the training and tools to be able to deliver a product that exceeded the customer’s expectations. Today, installers that have benefited from Jim’s training bring a level of pride to each job that is unmatched in the industry."
CFI continues to grow at an aggressive pace nationwide and has expanded its membership in several foreign countries. With a total of 41 chapters and more than 14,000 members, CFI provides a source for continuing education, problem solving and the sharing of ideas between professional commercial and residential installers.
Walker is a member of the World Floor Covering Association, the Heart of America Floorcovering Association (HAFA) and a recipient of the 1991 HAFA Hall of Fame Award. He was honored by Floor Covering Weekly and Flooring Magazine as one of the Floor Covering Persons of the Year and recognized by Floor Covering Weekly as an Industry Leader of the Past 50 Years.
Walker continues to be active in the industry and conducts seminars both locally and nationally for installers, sales personnel, architects, carpet manufacturers and many floor covering associations. He provides technical installation information to several carpet and product manufacturers and has written the installation manual that is used by two major department stores nationwide. He is a frequent contributor of installation articles for national publications.
The purpose of the WFCA Industry Hall of Fame is to afford permanent recognition to individuals that have had a major impact on the floor covering industry.
