The Flooring Contractors Association (FCICA) held a successful "2 Days to CIM" training event and a Regional Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. FCICA contractor member Fishman Flooring Solutions served as host to "2 Days to CIM" Baltimore, Wednesday and Thursday, October 25 - 26, followed by the Regional Meeting Baltimore, a one-day educational and networking event Friday, October 27.

Seven flooring professionals participated in the training to become newly designated CIMs – Certified Installation Managers. Program mentors, Mike Newberry, CIM, FloorMax and Huseyin Koca, CIM, Partner Flooring, led the training.

Al Harriott, regional branch manager—Mid-Atlantic, Fishman Flooring Solutions, showcasing Fishman Flooring Solutions warehouse facilities to "2 Days to CIM" Baltimore candidates. Photo: FCICA.

The following professionals completed the CIM training:

• Bill Ackerman, FloorMax
• Kyle Anderson, FloorMax
• Mike Connolly, FloorMax
• Daniel Gonzalez, Preferred Flooring MI LLC
• Tony Hymans, Price Modern
• Garrett Porter, CP Build
• Jessie Underwood, Gato Flooring

The Regional Meeting Baltimore followed the CIM training. Commercial flooring contractors, distributors and manufacturers convened for this one-day event featuring an educational session, one product demo and two product presentations with time in between to network. The day’s program opened with a presentation from FCICA and a tour of the Fishman Flooring Solutions' facility by Shane Richmond, Vice President and Al Harriott, Regional Branch Manager, Mid-Atlantic Region.

The sessions included:

Large and Heavy Format Tile Installation Demo: Presented by Gary Waldron, Allen Janofsky and Vince Linton, Sales Representatives, MAPEI Corporation.

Kovara Moisture Control System: Presented by Carlo Martino, Director of Sales for Key National Accounts and Curtis Colegrove, CIM, Field Tech, TRAXX Corporation.

LVP / LVT Recipes for Success: Presented by Peter Kane, Technical Manager, Commercial Accounts, Novalis Innovative Flooring.

Proper Subfloor Preparation for Substrates to Receive Patching/Leveling Compounds and Adhesives: Presented by Joe Vansickle and Ryan Manear, Sales Representatives, ARDEX Americas.

FCICA initiated the regional meetings to connect with contractors and flooring professionals on a local level to provide learning opportunities, networking and share how to leverage membership benefits. The meetings are part of the organization's regional outreach efforts to engage current members and introduce the association to nonmembers. The Regional Meeting Baltimore was the 5th outreach initiative held. Previous meetings were held in Suwanee, Georgia (August 2023), Wayland, Michigan (November 2022), Baltimore, Maryland (May 2022) and Atlanta, Georgia (April 2021).

For more FCICA news, click here.