By Matthew Spieler
MINNEAPOLIS—In 1994, Jim Lee saw the need for an organization to support distributors who sell flooring installation products and accessories. Fifteen years later the Floor Installation Association of North America (FIANA) has built a solid reputation for not only helping its wholesaler members, but their manufacturing partners as well as the installers they service.

Lee helped start FIANA after already having spent approximately 40 years in the industry, first working for flooring manufacturers and then, in 1977, starting Professional Flooring Supply (PFS) in Fort Worth, Tex. After 54 years in flooring, Lee announced his retirement effective Dec. 31.

In making the announcement, he noted, the industry has seen a great deal of change and evolution take place over the last number of years and “it’s time for FIANA to change and get some fresh ideas.”

As such, Gary Verhey, who has been involved with FIANA since its beginning, including serving on its board, has been elected to succeed Lee as president and CEO of the association.

“I’ve known Gary since our days with Roberts Consolidated back in the mid ’60s,” Lee recalled. “He built a very successful company in Inland Northwest Distributing and brings a wealth of experience to FIANA.”

Lee, who announced his retirement at FIANA’s 15th annual convention and trade show here, added, “I leave FIANA knowing full well that Gary will be successful in leading the organization to new heights.”

Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), called Lee “the driving force behind the success of FIANA. The organization began one year after CFI was formed and it has been interesting to watch the impact both groups have made on the industry. Jim is a dedicated, hard working and intelligent person who has given more than asked to guide FIANA during the past 15 years.”

He added Lee’s dedication to the installation part of the industry was not just with his distributor members but to the everyday installer as well. “Jim has been a constant supporter of CFI and contributed his knowledge and years of experience by serving on CFI’s. We expect him to continue sharing this with us even though we know he is heading for the mountains.”

Lee confirmed that even though he is hanging up his flooring hat, he doesn’t plan on leaving his installation friends in the dark. Putting a spin on a famous quote by General Douglas McArthur, he said, “Old floor covering people don’t die, they live on to lay another day. At least I hope so.”

Verhey has actually spent his whole life in the industry, getting his first taste while in high school working at his dad’s retail store, Verhey Carpets in Grand Rapids, Mich. In 1969, after having spent a number of years working for other flooring supply companies out west, he founded Inland in Spokane, Wash., and built it into a major carrier of installation supplies and tools with seven branches throughout the Northwest. He sold the company after 37 years to T&A Supply and remained a consultant until the end of this month.

Walker called Verhey the right person to lead the organization into its next phase. “He is well known from his days at both Roberts and Inland where he actively promoted installation training, certification and professionalism. FIANA is a great platform to continue the focus on education. I’m confident Gary will bring new ideas as well as promote programs such as the Blue Volt Educational Training for distributor counter personnel. CFI has nothing but high regards that he will have a great future guiding FIANA through many more successful years as an organization that supports the industry.”

Having just come off a trade show that, despite the recession, saw attendance down only 7%,” Verhey plans to keep FIANA and its membership focused on the big picture.

“My No. 1 goal is education,” he explained. “FIANA supports and accepts the responsibility that its members are the main conduit for educating the floor covering installer in our suppliers’ products and methods, as well as industry installation trends. With this objective we have launched the FIANA Training Center, a Web based initiative for all distributor sales personnel to receive consistent training ( FCNews, Sept 14/21).”

To do this, he said the organization needs to keep growing and continuing “to support all floor covering associations as we have in the past in any joint efforts to foster the professionalism of this industry.”

For more on FIANA, call 817.326.2615.