Anaheim, Calif.—The World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA) recently announced some major changes and adjustments to its staff in order to reflect a shift in emphasis within the organization. Christopher Davis, WFCA’s CEO, stated the staffing alignments have been made to enhance the membership presence by focusing the WFCA to take more of a leadership role in installation training and industry certification.

Dan Higgins has joined the WFCA staff as director of development. His primary area of responsibil ity will be membership sales development, including planning, budgeting implementing, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of sales programs and activities. Higgins left his post as national sales director of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau to work with the WFCA. He will report directly to Davis. Terry Hearne, director of operations, who also reports to Davis, assumes oversight of certification, installation trade education, trade and academic scholarships and retains his duties overseeing affiliate relations.

Jon Namba, director of technical services, now reports to Hearne and will partner with him in working to expand the teaching of the RITE installation curriculum in both secondary and vocational schools throughout the country. Dr. Harry Perdew, former WFCA director of education, has left the organization in order to pursue personal interests. Higgins has an extensive history as a senior sales executive in the hotel industry with Wyatt and Renaissance Hotels in the U.S. and Concordia Hotels and Resorts in Hong Kong, as well as with destination management agencies in Long Beach and Palm Springs, Calif.

He also spent several years as a media buyer in the advertising industry. Higgins is originally from the Boston area and is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts. “Dan brings a unique skill set to the WFCA and a track record of accomplishment as someone who has always exceeded sales goals,” Davis said. “I know him to be exceedingly effective and he will be a great addition to our team.” “Terry Hearne continues to demonstrate his strength and value to the organization by taking on tough assignments and meth odically approaching his tasks,” Davis added.

“Overall,” he concluded, “these staffing adjustments have helped to create a unit dedicated to serving our members and the industry with the utmost competency and effectiveness.” Currently, WFCA has more than 3,000 member firms. For additional information on the organization, call 800/624-6880. —Louis Iannaco