Anaheim, Calif.—While it may seem like it
was only yesterday that a new “Best Installer In The Nation” was crowned at
Surfaces, the process begins anew on Aug. 22 and 24 when the first of seven
Regional Installation Contests get underway in Cleveland. Once again, the
competition will be sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA) and
local floor covering affiliate organizations, and will feature installers from
all across the United States and Canada. The winners of these competitions will
be flown to Las Vegas and provided ho tel accommodations to compete in the
National Installation Contest Finals scheduled during Surfaces 2003, from Jan.
29 to 31.
“This nationwide search to identify the
‘best installer in the nation’ for both carpet and resilient floor coverings
has become an industry favorite,” said Jon Namba, WFCA’s technical services
director and the competition’s coordinator. “We hope every retail member of
the WFCA will encourage its best installers to register for one of the regional
competitions, and that all dealers will attend the regional competition in their
area. “The experience is invaluable for installers,” he explained, “and
the material rewards can be substantial for the regional winning qualifiers as
they move on to the national competition at Surfaces 2003.” Dates To Remember
The competitions will be conducted across the nation as follows:
• Midwest, Aug. 23 and 24 in Cleveland,
contact Terry Weber of the Northeast Ohio Floor Covering Association at
216/361-4660;
• Northeast, Sept. 20 and 21 in Salem, N.J.,
( Mannington Mills headquarters), call J.R. Harris of the Maryland State Floor
Covering Association at 301/870-8914;
• Upper Midwest, Sept. 26 and 27 in Omaha,
Neb., contact either Arlon Miller of the Nebraska-Iowa Floor Covering
Association at 402/346-4900 or Rich Odermatt at 402/330-1680;
• Southwest, Oct. 4 and 5 in Phoenix, call
Jim Straley of the Arizona Floor Covering Association at 480/596-9076;
• West Coast, Oct. 11 and 12 in Sacramento,
Calif., call Jennifer Horstman of the Sacramento Valley Floor Covering
Association at 530/432-2387;
• Southeast, Oct. 18 and 19 in Durham, N.C.,
contact Jennifer Marhoul of the North Carolina Floor Covering Association at
919/484-2987, and
• Northwest, Nov. 15 and 16 in Seattle, call
Debbie Tott of the Washington State Floor Covering Association at 425/885-0012.
This is the sixth consecutive year of the
regional contests, which consist of a written exam, repair test and a hands-on
work order to complete. “The competition showcases the talent of the
installers and brings focus to the value of quality installation,” said Namba,
“and the mechanics enjoy the chance to present their work in a competitive
format.” Manufacturers, distributors, retailers and association volunteers
donate products, time and assistance to help pull off this collaborative,
all-industry event, noted Namba. “We thank all of them and look forward to a
great round of regional contests,” he concluded. For more information on the
regional installation contests, contact the program’s coordinator, Jon Namba,
at 800/624-6880 or the regional coordinator in your area. —Louis Iannaco
