From left, first-time FIANA attendees R. Fastow, D. Edwards, S. Mueller and G. Grassmuck

By Louis Iannaco

The Floor Installation Association of North America (FIANA) held its 12th annual convention and trade show at the Hyatt Regency here recently, drawing hundreds of installation professionals from around the country.

Once again, the theme of the five-day event was “Professionalism Through Education” as several speakers were on hand to educate, motivate and entertain attendees. “Our conventions have become a gathering of old friends, a place to make new friends and learn something attendees can take home,” said Jim Lee, FIANA’s president and CEO.

Among some of the speakers on hand were Dennis Brown, who opened the convention with the phrase, “The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude,” and Max Carey, who presented “Business Solutions: Survival of the Fittest.” The event’s dinner saw John Powers present “Do What You Do, Love What You Do!”

Some of the seminars included “Is Your Company in Compliance With Federal & State Law’s Governing Employees,” by Andria Ryan, an attorney with Fisher & Phillips; and “Showroom Display & Point of Sell, Selling,” presented by The Grachek Brothers.

Dayton Superior, a company heavily involved in the concrete and construction industry, has been trying to grow its flooring product business, noted Robert Fastow, national program manager, flooring. “We decided to look for new distributors within the floor covering industry. This is the first year we’ve attended, and the show has given us some leads. We’ve opened the eyes of distributors who didn’t know we existed. Overall, the event has been a positive experience for us.”

“It’s a good show due to the fact that the attendees are a small, tight-knit group, speaking of the sundries supply distributors. There were probably about 60 manufacturers at the show as well. The opening day was great. People were walking the aisles, talking. Between the dinner and the cocktail reception, it’s a good place to network.”

“Coming out of the flooring industry as I do, the key market for us is the sundries supply distributors. That’s what this show is all about. If we are going to be a player, we have to be accepted into this group.”

FIANA’s next convention will take place from Oct. 11 to 14, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Reunion in Dallas.

For more information on FIANA and its programs, call 817.326.2615.