MEMPHIS, TENN.—Last month, the Floor Covering Contractors Association (FCICA) held its annual midyear meeting at the historic Peabody Hotel here. Manufacturers of flooring products and sundries, contractors and consultants gathered for three days of business meetings, educational sessions and a mission statement workshop.

Overall, the group was pleased with this year’s session offerings and attendance at the meeting attested to that, noted Kim Oderkirk, FCICA’s executive vice president. She explained how FCICA chairman Christopher Capbianco and the convention planning committee added educational sessions to the midyear meeting four years ago, and attendance has been continually increasing.

“We have a lot of good people showing a lot of interest in what we are all about and they are getting involved,” said Capobianco.

Education sessions addressed a myriad of topics, from business themes like, “Steps to optimize accounts receivable management in today’s economic times,” to “Safety—how to use the FCICA safety book and the new safety regulations you need to know about.”

Oderkirk said session topics correlate with the needs of the flooring industry, and incorporate history when there are teachable moments, as seen in the meeting’s capstone—a visit to Graceland and Elvis’ 1970s preserved kitchen carpet.

Another important feature of the group’s meeting was networking. “Networking is one of the most valuable parts of being a member of this organization,” she said. “It’s the hardest thing to quantify as a member benefit. You just have to come and experience it for yourself.”

The final day of the gathering addressed the mission statement for the association. Led by Arlene Guzman of CCILI.com, members worked to devise a new mission that aims, “To provide a unique network for problem solving, education and support, to enhance our members’ businesses and the flooring industry.”

FCICA is on the move, concluded Capobianco, and “I look forward to working with new friends and old to continue to see us live out our mission and help each other improve ourselves, our businesses and our industry.”

FCICA’s annual convention is scheduled for March 7 to 9, 2010 in Charleston, S.C., at the Francis Marion Hotel.

For more on the organization, call 248.661.5015.