Dalton—To better reflect its overall purpose and direction, the Dalton Floor Covering Market Association (DFCMA) has changed its named to the American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA). Bob Kokoszka, the organization’s president, said the change in name was necessitated by the fact the association broadened its mission statement “to keep pace with the changes within our industry and expand our scope to be able to anticipate any future changes—and do so with greater professionalism and involvement.” AFA’s new mission statement is:

“An organizational alliance representing all segments of floor covering manufacturing and related services. To serve the collective needs of the floor covering industry through programs that promote and facilitate group action especially beneficial to the member participants of the alliance.”

In addition to the name change, the organization, which runs the biennial Car pet Technologies Show here, has retain ed industry veteran Ron VanGelderen as its advisor. VanGelderen spent more than 20 years as president of the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) before retiring two years ago. In coming to the AFA, he said the association’s goals are “to increase its activities, provide meaningful services and intensify the effectiveness of existing programs, namely the machinery show. “AFA will operate in a niche mode,” he continued, “not in conflict but harmoniously with other industry programs.”