Event Schedule - Monday, March 11 - Wednesday, March 13, 2024

* The 2024 MYM starts early this year! Arrive by noon Monday, March 11 to attend afternoon sessions and programs! 

Monday - Wednesday, March 11 - 13, 2024 Education Sessions + Plant Tours

Monday, March 11 at 3:00 pm |  Dead Level Floors – Learn How to Go From Flat and Smooth to Dead Level 

Presented by Seth Pevarnik, Director of Technical Services, ARDEX Americas

This education session is sponsored by a generous contribution from ARDEX Americas.

For substrates to receive the installation of finish flooring, they must be flat and smooth so the flooring can perform as intended and the finished flooring is aesthetically pleasing. The common specification for flatness of a substrate to receive finish flooring is 3/16” in 10’. In most cases, a 1/4" to 3/8” application of a self-leveling underlayment can meet the flatness specification and create a smooth surface for the finish flooring. However, sometimes there is a need to pour a super flat / dead level floor to meet the needs of the area. In this presentation, you will learn the difference between flat smooth and level. You will also learn about the types of tools, equipment and application methods to achieve a dead level floor.

Seth Pevarnik has worked for Ardex Americas in the Technical Service Department since 1991 and is currently their Director of Technical Services. His areas of expertise are Concrete, Moisture in Concrete, Proper Substrate Preparation, Underlayments, Toppings and Decorative Applications. He has been certified in Substrate and Subfloor Inspection and well as Substrate and Subfloor Preparation. He has presented information on moisture in concrete, proper substrate preparation, flooring adhesives and tile and stone to industry groups including FCICA, ICRI, INSTALL, NAFCT, NFCA and STARNET. He is active in industry associations and standards organizations including ASTM, FCICA, STARNET, INSTALL, IICRC, NAFCT, NFCA and MMSA. Seth sits on the boards for FCICA and NAFCT and serves as the IICRC Chair for the ISSI Certification; he also is on FCICA's Education and CIM Committees. He helped develop the newly published ANSI S220 Hard Surface Floor Covering Inspection Standard, is helping to develop the ANSI S230 Standard for Professional Inspection of Flooring Subfloors and Substrates and is a voting member of the ANSI S800 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Inspection of Textile Floor Covering.

Tuesday, March 12 - 8:30 - 9:30 am | Keynote Speaker - Kelley Fain, Executive Vice President, Commercial Division, Shaw Industries

Kelley Fain's Keynote Address is generously sponsored by a generous contribution from Shaw Industries.

Kelley Fain, Executive Vice President of Shaw’s Commercial Division, brings profound company and customer insight to his role. Throughout his 29-year tenure, Kelley has made significant contributions across various departments, from customer service teams to the Custom Design Studio, and from field sales to leadership positions. Kelley's diverse experience has enriched his understanding of Shaw's customers and their needs, leading to business growth across all divisional areas. With comprehensive knowledge and expertise spanning education, government, hospitality, corporate, retail, and healthcare sectors, he leads with a commitment to excellence and innovation, instilling a culture of action and accountability within the Shaw teams. Kelley's leadership has been instrumental in supporting customers across each market segment and positioning Shaw’s commercial business for future success and expansion.

Tuesday, March 12 - 9:30 - 10:30 am  |  Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of Flooring Professionals - Panel Discussion

Moderated by Ed, Metcalf, President, Metcalf Advisor Services. Panelists - James Lockwood, CIM, Quality and Productivity Manager, Consolidated Flooring, Ben Walker, Director of Client Services, Go Carrera and Jose Gonzalez, CIM, Partner, Preferred Flooring MI. 

An ongoing challenge in the flooring industry is the recruitment of qualified installers – and retaining them, once hired. What can those in management do to improve their recruitment efforts and land well-matched hires? How can management impart to younger new recruits the benefits of a career in flooring and change their mindset from 'it's just a job' to seeing it as a long-term, financially beneficial profession? Creating a career plan – mapping the steps and future opportunities is one way to decrease turn-over and improve retention. Including them in decision-making and pairing an apprentice with an experienced mentor are other ways to tackle the problem. Hear from this panel of professionals as they discuss their challenges, ideas, success stories and solutions to hiring committed candidates to the trade and bridging the generational ‘work cultures’ to foster the next generation of flooring professionals.  

Ed Metcalf is a flooring industry veteran whose leadership roles have included executive positions at major manufacturers and numerous terms as Director on many industry association boards. Service  to the industry awards from Ceramic Tile Distributors Association, National Tile Contractors Association, and Tile Contractors Association of America are testament to Metcalf’s commitment to the growth and stability of the flooring industry. Metcalf Advisory Services is a consulting firm offering assistance to commercial organizations and trade associations, primarily focused on data analysis, strategy, and business development.

James Lockwood, CIM, is the Quality and Productivity Manager for Consolidated Flooring and is a flooring veteran, having been in the flooring industry and with Consolidated Flooring for 36 years. He is a member of the NYC District Council of Carpenters, going on 32 years. James has experience in all aspects of flooring: as an installer, foreman and for the last 8 years, the Quality and Productivity Manger. James sits on the FCICA Board of Directors and serves on the Membership and Education Committees. Consolidated Flooring is a service-oriented, commercial floor covering contractor with over 80 successful years of operational and incremental growth in the industry. As one of the nation’s largest and most recognized full-service floor covering contractors, we serve our clients from planning and specification through installation and maintenance on all the latest product options and innovations. Consolidate Flooring is also a 42 year FCICA member!

Jose Gonzalez, CIM, Partner, Preferred Flooring MI, started in the flooring industry in 1998. Together with his brother and sister, they formed Preferred Flooring, a full-service flooring contractor company. Preferred Flooring provides highly skilled installers in the Grand Rapids, MI area. Jose's believes hard work, a great work ethic and an entrepreneurial mindset has led his team to success.

Ben Walker has been in the construction industry for over 10 years. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer for Go Carrera.  Previously, Ben led a commercial tile contracting company to 6X revenue growth over just 3 years and has experienced, first-hand, the difficulty of finding quality installers. He has now made it his mission to help companies navigate the flooring industry installation crisis by scaling Go Carrera’s network and ensuring both company and installer members receive maximum value from Go Carrera's ecosystem.  Go Carrera is a labor management platform that empowers independent installers and flooring companies to track work and perform their best with labor management tools and resources. Its mission is to put installers in control of their success and tackle the labor crisis by ensuring companies can find quality installers for their projects.

Tuesday, March 12 - 2:45 - 3:30 pm  |  Recycling in the Flooring Industry – How it's Done

Presented by Rachel Palopoli, Director of Circular Economy, Tarkett and Bob Peoples, Executive Director, C.A.R.E

Recycling old flooring is a commendable effort to reduce waste and promote sustainability.  But is it easy?  How much does it cost?  What can be recycled? Learn from two industry experts who will explain specific guidelines and options for recycling.  Combined they have over 50 years in the recycling industry, they will share what can be recycled and how to identify, the process, logistics and how to create a recycling process plan for your business.  Learn about the state of the flooring recycling industry, legislation, and what we are hearing in the marketplace.

Rachel Palopoli, Director, Circular Economy, manages Tarkett’s Restart® program for take back and recycling.  She is responsible for setting strategic goals and milestones to meet customer needs, address legislative changes, and achieve corporate targets for recycling. Rachel has over 20 years of recycling experience within the built environment and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Hofstra University. Prior to joining Tarkett, Rachel held leadership roles with Planet Recycling and Aquafil where she led both organizations to strategically grow their recycling programs.

Robert Peoples, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Carpet American Recovery Effort (CARE). In this capacity, he works to implement market-based solutions for the reuse and recycle of post-consumer carpet. Prior to rejoining CARE, he was Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute in Washington, D.C. and served as the founding Executive Director and board member of The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and the Sustainability Director for the Carpet & Rug Institute. He also serves as President of the consulting firm Environmental Impact Group, LLC.  Dr. Peoples was a key driver in the development of the NSF 140 Sustainable Carpet ANSI Standard. Dr. Peoples has over seen the growth of the CARE organization from its beginnings in January 2002 to what is a $25M operational enterprise today.

Tuesday, March 12 - 3:45 - 4:45 pm  |  The Evolution of Estimating

Presented by Kathy Case, Director of Business Development, Quantify North America and Anastasia Adams, National Estimating Manager, Diverzify 

This education session is sponsored by a generous contribution from H.B. Fuller / TEC.

An estimating-centric walk through time: Explore the evolution of the estimating process from traditional paper takeoffs and manual document access through electronic data and processes into the latest advancements in AI technology.  Understand the variation in roles and responsibilities for estimators.  Our goal is to encourage you to learn and embrace the technology that is available.  Most importantly, you will learn how embracing technology can make the industry more appealing to younger generations, ensuring its stability and relevance in an increasingly digital world.

Kathy Case is a third generation flooring professional. With over 45 years in commercial construction, she has filled many roles - estimating, installation, project management, sales and executive management.  Currently, Kathy's focus is estimating - working with technology-based companies to develop estimating solutions for the industry. Quantify North America Inc. supports flooring industry estimating departments, customizing their systems with technology to improve the accuracy and ease of the estimating process. Kathy also serves on the FCICA Education Committee.

Anastasia Adams is the National Estimating Manager for Diverzify. An army veteran, Anastasia has over 12 years in the construction industry. She has held positions in the industry as both a designer and estimator. She is the author of Diverzify Estimating Training Manual, a comprehensive 170-page instructional manual and a 33-page Flooring Glossary guide. Complementing these materials, Anastasia built the accompanying estimating website and created RFI forms for all Diverzify brands. In her current position, she also serves as the Measure Square and Estimating Trainer. Diverzify is the nation’s most comprehensive commercial flooring and facility services provider. It is a first-of-its-kind resource that unifies preeminent experts, services and resources in a way that has never been done before.

Proper attire is required - long pants, no open-toed shoes, no jewelry. Everyone MUST sign the online Mohawk waiver to attend the tour. 

• Mohawk Pilot Plant Tour - Contractors will tour the Mohawk Group + Durkan’s largest sample plant where the soft surface mini tufting machines are housed and the product development team create new products and colorways.
• Mohawk Carpet Manufacturing Tour – Contractors will tour the Broadloom, Tufting and PDI Lab and Production where state-of-the-art machines run - in what was once in the industry called ‘Print’ but now is called Precise Dye Injection. Visitors will learn how important lighting is in this process and how Mohawk’s market innovations create better products and faster production times.

Shaw Plant Tour Experience - 4 Plant Sites / Lunch - Meet at the Hilton Garden Inn parking area at 8:00 - 8:15 am. Busses leave at 8:30 am sharp. 

Please note Shaw site tours have been assigned in advance. If you responded to the tour selection ask, we assigned your first choice, when feasible. Proper attire is required - long pants, no open-toed shoes, no jewelry. Everyone MUST sign a hard copy of the Shaw waiver to attend the tour. 

• Shaw Plant RP - Resilient 
• Shaw Plant WM - Extrusion
• Shaw Plant 30 - Carpet Distribution
• Shaw Plant WD - Carpet Manufacturing

2024 Spring Mid-Year Meeting Product Demos  

Listed in order of day and time.

Monday, March 11 - 4:00 - 4:30 PM- i4F Patents & Technologies Product Demo

Discover the Future of Flooring Innovation with i4F Drop-Lock Technologies.  Unveiling the Game-Changer:  Get ready to delve into the world of seamless flooring installation as we introduce you to i4F's Drop-Lock technologies. Learn the art of effortless vinyl plank installation and uncover the secrets behind achieving a flawless result every time. We will walk you through the intricacies of Drop-Lock installation, sharing firsthand insights, tips, and tricks to elevate your flooring projects. Engage in an interactive Q&A session with our experts to answer your questions about Drop-Lock technologies, installation techniques and the future of modern flooring solutions.

Tuesday, March 12 - 11:45 - 12:15 PM - H.B. Fuller / TEC Product Demo

H.B. Fuller is proud to provide solutions for the entire flooring assembly including moisture mitigation, surface preparation and adhesives for all types of finished flooring.   Our demo will focus on three core components of a flooring system including the LiquiDam EZ moisture mitigation system, the Feather Edge Skim Coat smooth patch and our latest innovation for rubber and resilient flooring, particularly in the healthcare sector - Flexera 2K PSA - a hybrid epoxy adhesive with the installation advantages of a pressure sensitive application. Learn more about each of these products.

TEC LiquiDam EZ - https://www.tecspecialty.com/products/surface-preparation/liquidam-ez/

TEC Feather Edge Skim Coat - https://www.tecspecialty.com/products/surface-preparation/feather-edge-skim-coat/

TEC Flexera 2K PSA - https://www.tecspecialty.com/products/flooring-adhesives/flexera-2k-psa-hybrid-adhesive/

Tuesday, March 12 - 12:15- 12:45 PM - Taylor Adhesives Product Demo

At Taylor Adhesives, innovation has long been our hallmark. Continuing this tradition proudly are our latest offerings: Taylor Resolute® moisture barrier and sound control adhesive and Zephyr®, our moisture barrier, encapsulator or primer coating. Taylor Resolute® sets a new standard, seamlessly combining moisture control and sound management with an epoxy-like bond—all in a single-component, one-step product. Zephyr is one of the multi-functional products from Taylor Adhesives that will reduce sku’s in your inventory. Zephyr can be used to encapsulate old adhesive residue including latex, acrylic and cutback. It can also be used as a moisture barrier over concrete slabs up to 15 lbs. or 95% RH and used to prime dusty or porous substrates.

Tuesday, March 12 - 1:30 - 2:00 PM - Custom Building Products Product Demo

Custom Building Products will discuss the New ANSI A118.19 - Organic Premixed Grouts for Tile Installations and demonstrate the Easiest Grout To Install PERIOD – the new Prism® SCG Ultimate Performance Pre-Mixed Single Component® Grout. Prism® Single-Component® Grout (SCG) is a professional grade premixed, efflorescence-free, and crack-resistant sanded grout. Its Single-Component® formula is ready to use and is the easiest grout to install, regardless of the type of grout or experience level. It is color perfect, highly stain-resistant, and never requires sealing. Prism® SCG can be installed on interior and most exterior tile, glass, and natural stone applications on walls, floors, and ceilings on commercial and residential projects. Its technologically advanced formulation provides extended open time and excellent cleanability along with built-in MicroBan® antimicrobial product protection.

At Custom Building Products, we make your tile, stone and floor covering installations as fast, easy and durable as possible through performance-driven installation systems and support. We are known for reliable customer service and expert technical support. Our rich history is built on innovation and a commitment to quality manufacturing, that’s why we stand by our installation products by offering the best Lifetime Warranty in the industry. For more information about Custom Building Products, visit our website @ https://www.custombuildingproducts.com/.

Tuesday, March 12 - 2:00 - 2:30 PM - LATICRETE International -

Lightweight Solutions with LATICRETE® NXT® Level Plus Lite & Skim Lite

NXT Level Plus Lite -  NXT® Level Plus Lite is a premium lightweight, fiber-reinforced, pumpable, cement-based underlayment designed for leveling a variety of interior projects using concrete, plywood, OSB, or gypsum substrates prior to the application of floor coverings. At nearly half the cured weight of a standard self-leveling underlayment (SLU), it’s a great option for installations with load-bearing concerns. Link: https://laticrete.com/en/surface-preparation/nxt/self-leveling-underlayments/nxt-level-plus-lite

Skim Lite - Skim Lite is high yielding, fast-drying, fiber reinforced, cement-based underlayment designed for skim-coating, smoothing and leveling prior to the application of floor coverings. For interior and exterior applications and offers the customer light weight properties while maintaining strong surface, being rated for caster wheel use. Link: https://laticrete.com/en/surface-preparation/nxt/repairs/skim-lite

A leading manufacturer of globally proven construction solutions for the building industry, LATICRETE offers a broad range of products and systems covering tile and stone installation and care, adhered façade and wall finish systems, resinous coating and floor finish systems and concrete and substrate preparation including the SUPERCAP® System.

Thank you for Your Silent Auction Donations! 

ARDEX Feather Finish Self-Drying, Cement-Based Finishing Underlayment - 1 pallet (208 bags) - Donated by ARDEX Americas

Provides a smooth surface over a variety of substrates prior to the installation of today’s demanding floor coverings. Install floor coverings in as little as 15 minutes. Superior coverage – up to 300 sq. ft. per bag. Easy to mix with water only. Applies to a true featheredge

ARDEX-FEATHER-FINISH-Product Overview

ARDEX-FEATHER-FINISH-Technical-Data - 3-24.pdf

ARDEX-FEATHERFINISH-package.webp

Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds - Donated by Federated Insurance

Custom Tune technology uses a special chime to learn your ear canal’s shape. The chime is sent into your ear, then bounces back and is picked up by the built-in microphones, allowing your buds to optimize noise cancellation and sound performance that fits you perfectly. Take it one step further, using Adjustable EQ settings to control bass, mid-range, and treble levels as you go.

Floorcloud Remote Monitoring Technology Platform - Donated by Floorcloud

Floorcloud Remote Monitoring Technology Platform (PM – 5 Plan): 6 month software subscription and lease of 5 Jobsite Conditions Sensors. The Floorcloud solution includes 10 software users and 5 Jobsite Conditions Sensors. Monitor up to 5 projects simultaneously! The auction winner will receive team training and all support services needed to be successful.

TEC Level Set 400 HF Self Leveling Underlayment - Donated by H.B. Fuller / TEC

One pallet (56 bags @ 50lbs ) of TEC Level Set 400 HF Self Leveling Underlayment and one 5-gallon pail of TEC Multi-Purpose Primer. The high quality, superior performance of Level Set 400 HF self-leveling underlayment with its high flow, self-healing and super smooth finish leaves the competition in the dust.

Spec Sheets - tec_levelset400hf_ss_n0123.pdf and pds_tec_levelset400_r1023.pdf.

NXT Level Plus Lite (1 Pallet/56 Bags) - Donated by LATICRETE International

NXT® Level Plus Lite is a premium lightweight, fiber-reinforced, pumpable, cement-based underlayment designed for leveling a variety of interior projects using concrete, plywood, OSB, or gypsum substrates prior to the application of floor coverings.  At nearly half the cured weight of a standard self-leveling underlayment (SLU), it’s a great option for installations with load-bearing concerns. Safer and easier to carry and handle, NXT Level Plus Lite is 50% lighter in packaging weight than traditional self-leveling underlayment products and contains no respirable crystalline silica levels that exceed the OSHA action level. This versatile, rapid-setting self-leveling underlayment is pump-friendly and pourable up to 4" (102 mm) in depth. NXT Level Plus lite provides consistent results and produces a flat, smooth, and hard surface in as soon as 24 hours.

Skim Lite (2 Pallets/192 Bags) - Donated by LATICRETE International

Skim Lite is high yielding, fast-drying, fiber reinforced, cement-based underlayment designed for skim-coating, smoothing and leveling prior to the application of floor coverings. It is perfect for use in commercial, retail (malls and shops), healthcare, education (schools and universities), residential, hospitality and hotels and office space flooring applications. Skim Lite can be applied over concrete, plywood, OSB and gypsum-based substrates. For interior and exterior applications and offers the customer light weight properties while maintaining strong surface, being rated for caster wheel use. With installer safety in mind, this product contains no respirable crystalline silica levels that exceed the OSHA action level.

Ultrabond ECO 399 (1 Pallet, 48 Pails) - Donated by MAPEI Corporation

Ultrabond ECO 399 is a high-moisture-resistant, heavy-rolling-load-resistant, aggressive, pressure-sensitive adhesive with enhanced dimensional control properties designed to install a wide variety of resilient flooring types.

•   Resistant to heavy rolling loads
•   Minimizes gaps in luxury vinyl tile and plank
•   Resistant to high moisture
•   Allows up to 6 hours of working time

Protect-All Designer Series Interlocking Floor - Donated by Protect-All Flooring

10' x10' section of the Protect-All Designer Series Interlocking Floor. Choose from blue with gray flecks or red and white flecks. Protect-All Designer Series is manufactured with the same durable vinyl properties as traditional Protect-All^® flooring, and was developed to bridge the gap between functionality and aesthetic appeal. Featuring a solid base color with varying accent colors throughout, this unique flooring can withstand high-traffic areas without showing wear while enhancing the design of any space. Protect-All Designer Series is the sustainable solution for a number of applications. Learn more via this link - https://protect-allflooring.com/designer.

Summer Fun Pickleball Package - Donated by Tarkett 

YETI Camino Carryall, 2 Stanley 36oz. Aerologht Iceflow bottles, 2 Wilson XP1 pickleball racquets and six pack of Penn pickleballs.

Dynamic(R) Firm-Set, Modified Transitional Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (1 Pallet) - Donated by Taylor Adhesives

When it comes to ultimate adaptability for numerous flooring types, Dynamic holds the market. Breaking all the rules, this revolutionary product saves time with its instant access for light traffic. Dynamic provides the superior bond-strength of a fully cross-linked adhesive, while temporarily retaining PSA-like surface tack.

Concrete Moisture Smart Sensor 5 Pack - Rapid RH® L6 - Donated by Wagner Meters

The Smart Sensor 5 Pack includes 5 Rapid RH® L6 Smart Sensors and accessories. Perfect for when you already have the Total Reader® and you just need a few extra Smart Sensors. The Rapid RH L6 Smart Sensors are factory calibrated using CMOSens® technology to ensure accurate readings. Each Smart Sensor pack comes with a NIST-traceable calibration certificate and comes in tamper-resistant packaging to ensure perfectly calibrated, genuine Wagner Smart Sensors.

One - Concrete Moisture Smart Sensor 5 Pack - Rapid RH® L6 (wagnermeters.com)

One - https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/datagrabber-bluetooth-data-logger/ 

Five - https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/datagrabber-range-extender/

Five - https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/protective-dome/

3 Certified Installation Manager Programs - Donated by FCICA

The Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program sets the industry standard for those involved in the management of commercial flooring projects.

The Program provides video training modules led by experts who speak from years of floor covering experience. Paired with assessments, the modules enhance the a flooring professional’s core skill set, experience and knowledge base necessary to successfully manage commercial flooring projects. Individuals who reach this level of expertise will be easily distinguished by the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) designation. Must register 3 candidates within one year of purchase.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Keynote Sponsor - Shaw Industries

• 5 minute presentation introducing opening keynote
• Company logo on the website and communications
• Company logo on shared onsite signage

Lanyard Sponsor  - $2,500

• Exclusive branded lanyard sponsor (Approx. cost for each lanyard is $2.50; estimated number of attendees is 190. Approx. total cost: $475 + printing)
• Company logo on the website and communications
• Company logo on shared onsite signage

Dinner Sponsor - $2,500

• Company logo on dinner signage and bars at reception
• Company logo on the website and communications
• Company logo on shared onsite signage

Education Session Sponsor - $750/session

* ARDEX Americas - Education Session Sponsor for 'Dead Level Floors – Learn How to Go From Flat and Smooth to Dead Level'.

* H.B. Fuller / TEC  - Education Session Sponsor for 'Evolution of Estimating'.

• Company logo on session signage
• Company logo on the website and communications
• Company logo on shared onsite signage

Contact Catherine Church, FCICA Executive Director if you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity (630) 672-3702 or catherinec@cmservices.com.

Hotel Accommodations 

Reserve your hotel stay. FCICA has room blocks at two hotels in Dalton, the Hilton Garden Inn is the main hotel block.

Hilton Garden Inn (Main hotel block)

879 College Drive

Dalton, GA 30720

Rate: $149.00/night

Courtyard by Marriott

785 College Dr,

Dalton, GA 30720

Rate: $107.00/night