CCA Global Hosts 15th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

ADAIRSVILLE, GA.—In its 15th year, the annual Alan Greenberg Charity Golf Tournament, hosted by CCA Global Partners, raised $160,000 in funds to support the Floor Covering Industry Foundation’s (FCIF) efforts to financially assist those who are, or have been, affiliated with the floor covering industry that have experienced a life-altering hardship, like catastrophic illness or a severe disability.

Taking place at the scenic Barnsley Gardens Resort in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, members and supporters of the floor covering industry gathered for a friendly round of golf to benefit FCIF.

“We feel fortunate to host this wonderful event,” said Howard Brodsky, chairman and co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “Having the opportunity to bring awareness to the admirable work of the FCIF, and raise money in the process, is something we truly cherish.”

Each year, the event draws manufacturers, distributors, retailers, industry trade associations, and individuals from within the floor covering industry, along with supporters from related industries together. They contribute to the FCIF by participating in the tournament as well as through sponsorships and donations.

“This event continues to be one of the largest contributors to the FCIF thanks to all our colleagues that participate” said Rick Bennet, co-CEO of CCA Global Partners. “It’s a powerful feeling when an industry is able to unite and offer support to a worthy cause.”

Call (855) 330-1183 or visit fcif.org to donate or apply for grants for families with catastrophic medical conditions.

Milliken Makes 2017 America’s Safest Companies List

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Milliken has landed a spot on EHS Today magazine’s 2017 America’s Safest Companies List. Milliken, a three-time honoree, was one of 13 companies recognized for providing a safe working environment for thousands of employees. In addition, Milliken became the first-ever company named to the America’s Safest Companies Hall of Fame.

America’s Safest Companies, created in 2002, is a corporate award honoring the safest companies in the United States. Since 2002, more than 225 companies with clearly demonstrated commitment to employee safety and health, environment management, and risk control have been included on the list published by EHS Today.

Among the various elements considered when creating the America’s Safest Companies list, EHS Today looks for transformational environmental, health and safety leadership across the board. Companies on this list are recognized for their innovative solutions to safety challenges, significantly lower injury and illness rates than industry averages, comprehensive training programs, top-notch internal and external communications speaking to the value of safety, and a commitment to incident prevention.

For more, call (864) 503-2020 or visit milliken.com.

Registration for Coverings 2018 Now Open

ATLANTA—Registration for Coverings, taking place in Atlanta May 8-11, is now open. Coverings provides a stage for the most innovative tile and stone products from around the world and delivers critical information about the industry’s latest trends through the show’s annual CEU-accredited conference program—all free of charge.

“Coverings aims to not only highlight the inherent value of tile and stone materials—their adaptability, durability, low environmental impact and beauty—but also foster connections between industry professionals, to grow businesses and build lasting professional relationships,” said Alena Capra, Coverings industry ambassador. “We’re thrilled to make our return to Atlanta in May and to engage with the vibrant community of industry professionals that comprise this market.”

Taking place in Atlanta for the first time in five years, the 2018 show will feature 1,100 exhibitors representing more than 40 countries and take over 450,000 square feet of exhibition space at the Georgia World Congress Center. According to show organizers, programming for Coverings will offer sessions for every category of tile and stone professionals featuring more than 60 CEUs for attendees.

For more, call (571) 313-5801 or visit coverings.com.

NALFA Celebrates Milestone with Website Relaunch

NEW YORK—In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) has relaunched its website.

The updated website features a brand new look and feel with updated content and improved mobile access. It is designed to enhance the experience of consumers, trade professionals, and industry members.

“We are excited about the redesign of our website,” said NALFA President Dan Natkin. “We have worked hard to make the website user friendly for consumers who are researching their floor options, while continuing to be the voice for the laminate flooring industry. We are proud of the final product.”

“We have worked hard to make the website user friendly for consumers who are researching their floor options, while continuing to be the voice for the laminate flooring industry. We are proud of the final product.”

For more, call (202) 785-9500 or visit nalfa.com.

Shaw’s Hutchison Receives Faces of Manufacturing Award

DALTON—Shaw’s Marten Hutchison is a recipient of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) 2017 Faces of Manufacturing Award.

Hutchison, lead innovation manager at Shaw, is one of four Georgians recognized for their respective contributions and commitment to the manufacturing industry, which is a key driver of the state economy.

Since joining Shaw in 1993, Hutchison has held numerous positions, including one where he led a team to build one of the largest plastic bottle recycling facilities in North America. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering, Hutchison has focused on equipment and technology to improve processes and incorporate automation into Shaw’s plants.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized as a Face of Manufacturing in Georgia,” Hutchison said. “I’m proud of how Shaw’s approach to manufacturing has become increasingly innovative.”

GaMEP is a federally funded economic development program of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Enterprise Innovation Institute. It works with manufacturers across the state to help them remain viable and economically competitive.

In addition to his Shaw duties, Hutchison is a FIRST Robotics team coach at Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy, where he helps students conceptualize, prototype, design, build and program robots for competition. The team recently was awarded one of four Rookie Inspiration awards at the world competition.

“We are very proud of Marten and grateful to him for his dedication to educating students in the STEM disciplines and exciting them about manufacturing, as they are the future of our industry,” said David Morgan, Shaw’s executive vice president of operations.

For more, call (800) 441-7429or visit shawinc.com.

H.J. Martin Wins Environmental Achievement Award

GREEN BAY, WIS.—H.J. Martin is the recipient of Starnet’s 2017 Gold Starnet Environmental Achievement Award.

“We applaud the management of H.J. Martin and Son for taking the initiative, and for continuing to focus on, sustainability,” said Fred Williamson, executive vice president for Starnet. “Thank you for raising awareness, both inside and outside of the flooring community, and for being a strong leader in environmental stewardship.”

Among the environmentally friendly initiatives undertaken by H.J. Martin and Son are the installation of LED lights on the sales floor of the company’s two showrooms, offices and warehouse, reducing electricity use to one-sixth of its prior amount; the use of eco-friendly products for installations whenever possible; the implementation of electronic time-card and payroll systems; the conversion of all accounting reports and postings to a PDF format to reduce paper use; separation of cardboard and wood waste from normal on-site trash for proper recycling and disposal; purchase of a new server and storage equipment to reduce electricity use by one-half, along with decreasing cooling needs; participation in a local program to recycle used cell phones and company promotion of carbon-footprint reduction through car-pooling and bicycling to work.

“H.J. Martin and Son appreciates the partnership with Starnet as it makes us a better company,” said David Martin of H.J. Martin and Son. “We look to Starnet to gain best practices from commercial contractors across the country and to implement them in our business. This award is a credit to our team and customers who are environmentally conscious.”

For more, call (920) 494-3461 or visit hjmartin.com.

Architect Christopher Grubb Launches Educational Series

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—Christopher Grubb, president and founder of Arch-Interiors Design Group, recently recorded a series of educational courses for Construct-Ed, the on-demand website site that provides online learning. Grubb drew upon his 25-plus years of experience designing to produce courses that will help others understand the concept of, and create with a focus on, luxury.

“I have been invited by several design schools to serve as an instructor, but sadly my schedule doesn’t allow it,” said Grubb. “I find it very fulfilling to share my knowledge via courses that my peers can access any time online. The Construct-Ed courses are an enjoyable way for me to give back to the design community.”

Courses that Grubb produced for Construct-Ed include “How Contractors Can Work With Designers to Create Luxury Bathrooms” and “Materials That Enhance Remodeling Projects & Give Clients an Unforgettable Experience.” Both of these are topics that Grubb has recently presented to live audiences at trade shows and other industry-related events.

For more, call (310) 652-7600 or visit archinteriors.com.

Feizy Introduces Visualizer Design Tool

DALLAS—Feizy has partnered with online solutions leader, MicroD, on a new digital merchandising program for dealers.

The Feizy Catalog Program is a merchandising tool that gives dealers the ability to showcase all Feizy catalog items online without increasing in-store inventory. Dealers that join the program will have access to a dedicated brand landing page to highlight Feizy products and tell their craftsmanship story. Using the “Accessorize” feature, online shoppers can then select a Feizy rug and virtually place it beneath a furniture piece to visualize and coordinate with their other items before purchasing.

By integrating the Feizy catalog with the OmniVue platform, MicroD provides consumers and retailers with a fully responsive website that is optimized and easy to navigate on all devices. Users experience consistent catalog data, beautiful images, interactive room planning and visualization tools and expert development to maximize for search engine results. With the launch of its 3D elements, MicroD continues to push the shopping experiences into the virtual realm through 3D room planning, 360-degree product views, product configuration, augmented reality and virtual reality.

For more, call (214) 747-6000 call or visit feizy.com.

Ecore Strengthens Web Presence with Updated Websites

LANCASTER, PA.—Ecore has updated its athletic, commercial and corporate websites to include optimized functionality and fresh designs, in order to elevate the company’s online brand presence and experience.

“Our updated websites feature additional content, visuals and resources housed in sleek, easy-to-navigate formats that allow our customers to find the specific products they need by market, application area or flooring type,” said Bo Barber, Ecore’s vice president of sales and marketing. “The websites are cohesive with our latest branding and provide customized content on product detail pages depending on how the user navigated to that page, allowing us to speak more directly to our customers.”

Each updated site has its own designated landing page with content and information that specifically addresses the unique needs and preferences of each brand. The athletic site is designed to target athletic and fitness customers, while the commercial website is focused on architects and designers serving the healthcare, hospitality, corporate, education, multifamily, public buildings, retail and senior care markets. The corporate website provides information about the company as a whole, Ecore’s history, as well as links to its heritage brands, in addition to the athletic and commercial websites.

For more, call (800) 322-1923 or visit ecoreathletic.com, ecorecommercialflooring.com and ecoreintl.com.