During The International Surface Event (TISE), Roland Thompson, owner, Thompson Flooring & Installation, discussed his latest appointment to Board Chair of the International Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) association chapter program as well as CFI’s plans for revamping the program. Thompson heads up one of only four remaining CFI chapters across the country. As president of the Delmarva Chapter, he is responsible for organizing local training and events for the Maryland and Northern Virginia region. 

The following are excerpts of our conversation, which you can listen to in its entirety below. 

FLOOR Trends & Installation: CFI used to have a chapter program that was more widely established, right? 

Roland Thompson: I’ll give the history of the chapters real quick. I think people understand what chapters are. Like anything else, whether you're in the Elks or something like that, you have your headquarters. Headquarters can only do so much, so they have the local VFWs that keep the members in that area intact and [abreast of] what's going on. 

The chapters were back in the day before the Internet and Zoom and everything else you could do. The trainers would go into an area [to train]. When we left there, it was very difficult— the national headquarters at that time was in Kansas City—to be able to communicate on a regular basis. When we went in and trained and certified, then we'd get that group to open a chapter there. 

At one time, we had two in Georgia—Dalton and Atlanta. You could have a couple in one state depending on the size of the state. We let the local chapter get the word out because you didn't have the Internet and all that to get the word out. 

So, that's how the chapters evolved. We had a good amount at one time, around 30. Because of the installation crisis, the people in these chapters started fading out. That’s why the younger generation that's coming in or the new fresh people coming in didn't understand what the chapters meant. It was our fault. We didn't project that good enough for them. 

That's how it started. We'd go into an area, we'd certify a group of people [in an] area, then we'd help form a chapter in the area to keep the CFI around to keep communication. CFI still has the same belief today, “By installers, for installers,” and that's our goal.

FTI: Now CFI is at a point where it wants to re-establish the chapter program and they have appointed you board chair over that committee. 

Thompson: There's four left—the one in Delmarva, Louisville, Fort Wayne and Wisconsin. We realized since it started fading that we needed to get back to our roots on some of what helped build CFI. Part of the benefits of a local chapter is that you can get product knowledge more easily. Headquarters can only do so much. 

Companies will come in and the installers in that area will have a closer place to come to get product knowledge. So, this can be no-cost education for anyone. Chapter meetings are for anyone. You don’t have to be a member. This helps CFI because people communicate with those that are certified, and they recognize the importance in certification. This helps build CFI’s membership. So,the benefits of the chapter are vast. 

FTI: How do you feel about being appointed to this position? 

Thompson: It is an honor. I've been president of the chapter locally for a long time. I've actually tried to move my vice president and a couple of the other board members up and for some odd reason they keep saying no. But now they recognize what we have accomplished in Delmarva and want to use that model to direct other chapters. I feel that they have the faith in me to help bring this along and hopefully we can. 

FTI: Is there any one specific thing that you're really looking forward to in this role? 

Thompson: The growth of the younger guys coming in because that's where we're reaching. We want to see the younger ones that have gotten certified that are on fire. This is a stepping stone for them to start taking on some leadership [roles] and this gives them that first step.

We’re actually talking with a group down in Texas to start a Hispanic chapter.

FTI: What's CFI's plan for growth as far as numbers of chapters? 

Thompson: We're hoping that this first year we can build a solid foundation. So, we would like to see if we can get five or six [chapters] started this year and start seeing growth. The only reason that the Delmarva Chapter has been able to sustain itself is due to the people around me. I have a good core board. If I start slacking and haven't done something, I'll get a phonecall saying, “what are you doing” and shake me out of it. 

FTI: If people are interested in establishing a chapter in their area, what do they need to do? 

Thompson: We have a chapter guide, a book of how to become a chapter. We also have a quickstart PDF on our website. I'll go over that with them. My contact information will be in there. Then, they can get their group together to start it. We recommend a core group of three people to start—a president, vice president and secretary. Once that's all set up, then I can make a trip out and help them get the first meeting started to show them [what to do]. We'll help them get set up.