NEW ORLEANS—Jim Walters has been elected the new chairman of the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA) effective July 1. The vote took place during the organization’s spring board meeting here. Walters, president of Macco’s Floor Covering in Green Bay, Wis., will take over from Nick Freadreacea of The Flooring Gallery, Louisville, Ky., who will become immediate past chairman, replacing Scott Steel of My Flooring America in Webster, Tex.

Walters has worked in flooring his entire adult life. Beginning part-time while attending school, he worked in the warehouse at Macco’s Carpet Warehouse, as it was then known, pushing a broom and cutting carpet. In 1978, after graduating from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College he went to work full time at Macco’s and over the next 21 years held a variety of positions in sales, became a store manager and was involved in marketing and buying.

In 1999, Walters joined Chicago-based distributor Florstar Sales as the Armstrong sales manager in Michigan. In 2002, James Macco, sold his now six-retail store namesake business to Walters, along with three of Macco’s children as partners. Presently, Macco’s Floor Covering is comprised of full line flooring retail outlets targeting all markets. The company is a Stainmaster Flooring Center, and also a member of the National Floorcovering Alliance. In addition, it operates a commercial division, Macco’s Commercial Interiors.

Walters’ involvement with the WFCA began in earnest in 2007 when he was first elected to the board and simultaneously was asked to serve on its Long Range Planning committee. He has since served on numerous committees including its executive committee since 2008, serving terms as secretary and treasurer/CFO.

“I’m very comfortable with the direction WFCA is moving,” he said. “The organization can and will focus its efforts on enhancing and improving the entire floor covering industry first, and any benefits it derives from that will be incidental. I see my role as helping to steer that course and aiding to achieve our big picture goals ensuring we continue to be a viable component of the industry and focus on moving it forward.

“WFCA is committed to providing its industry partners and members leadership and resources that will raise the level of professionalism, increase industry profitability and enhance consumer satisfaction,” he concluded.

In addition to Walters, the following were elected as WFCA directors: Harold Chapman, president of Bonitz Flooring Group in Greenville, S.C., chairman-elect; Paul Johnson, president of Interiors One, Carpet One in Tulsa, Okla., treasurer/CFO; Janice Clifton, partner/owner of Abbey Carpets Unlimited in Napa, Calif., corporate secretary; Dennis Blake, president of Better Floors & Restorations in Placentia, Calif., and Scott Walker, president of Walker’s Carpet One Floor & Home in Bellingham, Wash., as vice chairmen. Christopher Davis continues as WFCA’s president and CEO. These individuals will comprise the association’s executive committee for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

WFCA elects a third of its board each year for three-year terms. In addition to re-electing Clifton, WFCA members voted Phil Koufidakis, president of Baker Bros. in Phoenix, and Mark Weaver, president of Carpet Weavers in Bloomington, Ill., to new three-year terms.

Newly elected directors include: Maryanne Adams, president of Avalon Carpet, Tile & Flooring in Cherry Hill, N.J.; Bob Caputo, owner of Carpetland of Dothan, Ala., and Kelby Frederick, CEO of My Flooring America in Denton, Texas. Howard Partridge, president of Clean As A Whistle in Sugar Land, Texas, was elected to fill out a two-year unexpired vacancy ending June 30, 2013.

Also re-elected was Keith Campbell, chairman of Mannington Mills, to a three-year term as an associate director through June 30, 2014.

For more information about the WFCA and its board, call 800.624.6880.