• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
  • AWARDS
  • EDUCATION
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Breaking Flooring News
  • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
  • Carpet & Area Rugs
  • Hardwood
  • Installation Products
  • Installation Tools & Equipment
  • Laminate
  • Resilient
  • Specialty
  • Tile & Stone
  • MARKETS
  • Commercial
  • Residential
  • AWARDS
  • Installation Awards
  • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
  • Continuing Education
  • Webinars
  • MEDIA
  • FLOOR Podcast
  • Videos
  • TISE 2025 Videos
  • Product Spotlights
  • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issues
  • Contact
  • Advertise
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • Product Spotlights
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Breaking Flooring NewsFlooring Installation

FCEF 2022 Year in Review

FCEF 2022 Wins_Fri Dec 9_780x439.jpg
December 9, 2022

The Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) has had an intense and focused year rallying the industry around the goal of reducing the shortage of installation craftsmen in the flooring industry. Each of the organization's initiatives is focused on one of the three primary components of its mission: recruitment, scholarships, and placement.

The organization had a lot of wins in 2023. First, it coordinated the industry's first flooring installation technician program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC). Two 10-week pilot programs graduated 15 students (see coverage of these courses here). FCEF achieved accreditation on a 15-week course, and the flooring elective option is embedded in the construction program at Atlanta Technical College.

The accredited 15-week flooring installation technician program will kick off again at GNTC in January 2023. Also confirmed for 2023 are programs at Piedmont Technical College in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Indiana. Now that the program is accredited and the curriculum has been developed, FCEF expects to be able to roll out these programs at a much faster pace.

“Networking with the technical college community has been fruitful,” said Kaye Whitener, director of operations, FCEF. “There’s a lot of interest out there to add this program and generate interest in flooring craftsmen careers.”

Three companies donated flooring materials so the tech college course. Romanoff Renovations and William Bird each donated two truckloads of materials, and Swiff-Train donated one truckload of materials.

Several companies offered discounted tools and supplies, which will be used for the replication of the technical college course going forward: Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring, Ardex Americas, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers, Bostik, CFL Floors, Congoleum, JJ Haines, Laticrete, Tools 4 Floors, and William M Bird. 

A number of companies became financial sponsors of FCEC. The Dixie Group committed $50,000, CCA Global Parnters committed $50,000, and Welspun is donating one cent per square foot of select Welspun products to FCEF. Happy Feet and Midwest Distributors signed on to the pass-through program. Van Herron is also donating $1 for each scratch and repair kit sold.

FCEF hired Jen Zurn as eduation project manager. She will work with schools and industry supporters to grow technical college programs across the country. See Floor Trends' Women in Flooring podcast with Zurn here. 

Another milestone for FCEF over the past six months has been the connection with school counselor organizations.

“We know that many students who choose a trade career path or study trade careers at a technical college are heavily influenced by their guidance counselors,” said FCEF Executive Director Jim Aaron.

FCEF attended the American School Counselor’s Association (ASCA) conference in July, which was the first time flooring has been represented at this event,  and has been working with the Association for Career and Technical Education to help counselors understand the benefits of a career in flooring and guide their students on making career decisions. 

Throughout all the discussions during the day, the board of directors remained committed to the cause and was determined to build off the foundation created. Plans for 2023 include increased efforts to develop technical school programs across the nation, social media advocacy campaigns and guidance for retailers to activate on a local level. 

For more information, visit FCEF.org. 

See all of our FCEF coverage here

KEYWORDS: charities and fundraisers education and training Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF)

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • resilient flooring

    The 7 Types of Resilient Flooring

    The resilient flooring category is comprised of many...
    Resilient Flooring
    By: Resilient Floorcovering Institute
  • QuickDrain USA’s ShowerLine linear drain

    Tips for Curbless Shower Installation Using a Linear Drain

    Consider these four tips when planning for a curbless...
    Flooring Installation Products
    By: Darryl Jones
  • 2024 New Flooring Product Guide

    2024 New Flooring Products Guide

    We explore this year's introductions in area rugs,...
    Flooring Installation
    By: FLOOR Trends & Installation Editors
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

What Shaw Flooring Network Dealers are Banking on for 2025

What Shaw Flooring Network Dealers are Banking on for 2025

Shaw Flooring Network Retailers Report Post-Election Sales Surge

Shaw Flooring Network Retailers Report Post-Election Sales Surge

Takeaways from the 2024 AHSG Convention & Member Outlook for 2025

Takeaways from the 2024 AHSG Convention & Member Outlook for 2025

Retailers Share Top Takeaways from Shaw Flooring Network Convention

Retailers Share Top Takeaways from Shaw Flooring Network Convention

More Videos

Popular Stories

Ken Ballin manning the Tools 4 Flooring booth in Tool Alley at TISE 2025

10 Tool Innovations Every Flooring Contractor Should Have on Their Wish List

RevWood American Originals.jpg

How Mohawk's Domestic Manufacturing Powers Growth in Challenging Times

Paul Hambidge

The Waterproof Laminate Myth: Why Consumer Expectations May Never Be Met

Installation Awards - Vote Now!

Events

June 9, 2025

NeoCon 2025

A trade show for the commercial interior design industry.

December 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Flooring Groups

Flooring retailers, do you belong to a buying, marketing or franchise group?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

See More Products

FLOORtalk podcasts - Listen Now

Related Articles

  • FCEF

    FCEF Board Maps Out Progress for 2022, Identifies Challenges Going into New Year

    See More
  • FCICA-Fall-Meeting

    FCICA Mid-Year 2017 in Review

    See More
  • flooring industry year in review 2023

    2023 Flooring Industry Year in Review

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 2025 BNi SQUARE FOOT COSTBOOK-CV.jpg

    2025 BNi Square Foot Costbook

  • 9781622700158_c-15_.png

    Flooring and Floor Covering License Examination (C-15) - QuickPass Study Tool Book with Online Interactive Software

  • sand-finish.png

    NWFA Sand & Finish Guidelines

See More Products
×

We’re rolling out the red carpet of flooring knowledge!

Stay in the know on the latest flooring retail trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • Product Spotlights
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP