FCICA celebrates 30 years

Kimberly Gavin

[Savannah, Ga.] The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association held its 30th annual convention here, March 11 – 14. While celebrating a milestone was certainly on the group’s agenda, the meeting was packed with plenty of working sessions and networking. One main topic was the issue of subfloor moisture and the impact it is having on installers.

“The backbone of our industry are the folks in this room,” said Harold Chapman, president and CEO, Bonitz Flooring Group, during his keynote address. “These people do the job, and FCICA teaches them how to do the job better.”

It’s so hard to keep current, Chapman said, that the FCICA is paramount to helping owners and managers funnel new information to their people. “This organization is in a great position to teach and train,” he said. “Your company will be more successful.”

On every contractor’s mind these days is the increasing responsibility to test for moisture in concrete in new commercial construction. An entire panel discussion was devoted to the moisture topic. “Moisture, Subfloors and their Effect on Commercial Floor Covering,” was moderated by FCICA chairman Gerry Swift of Mike’s Flooring Companies, and included Jason Spanger, Wagner Meters; Ralph Grove, CCA Floors & Interiors and Kevin Phillips of nora systems. The consensus is that contractors have to be proactive.

The FCICA enjoyed the second largest turnout for this convention in the 12 years Oderkirk has been on board as manager. FCICA also welcomed 42 first-time convention attendees in a special event. The group currently has 131 members, 14 new ones. The group represents $759 million in annual revenues and a total of 1,333 installers.