Tackling the Installation Crisis: How FCEF is Building Tomorrow's Workforce

FCEF promo — *All images courtesy of FCEF.*

The statistics are striking: 410 scholarships awarded. Eighteen colleges across 10 states. An 82% industry placement rate. In just three years, the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) has emerged as a powerful force in addressing the flooring industry's critical labor shortage. But for Executive Director Jim Aaron and Director of Operations Kaye Whitener, these impressive numbers are just the beginning.

"Collectively, we have done a horrible job of talking about what a good, stable career path this can be, and quite frankly, a lucrative career path," Aaron said, highlighting one of the foundation's biggest challenges: awareness. Since taking the helm in early 2021, Aaron has led FCEF's mission to not just recruit and train new installers, but to fundamentally change how the industry approaches workforce development.

JIM AARON
Executive Director

KAYE WHITENER
Director of Operations

Building a New Model

The foundation's approach is comprehensive: partnering with established organizations like CFI, the National Wood Flooring Association, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, and Advanced Flooring Technologies while pioneering new pathways through community colleges and technical schools. Their flagship program? A rigorous 300-hour, 10-week course that covers everything from carpet and hardwood to LVP and tile installation.

"While graduates aren't yet ready to be independent installers, they emerge as advanced helpers with more training than most in the industry," Whitener explained.

This foundation has proven successful—what started as a pilot program at Georgia Northwest Technical College in late 2021 has exploded into 18 colleges across 10 states, with ambitious plans to reach 200 colleges within five years.

The Price of Progress

Such rapid expansion comes at a cost. Each new college program requires approximately $70,000 in startup costs and scholarship support. As a 501(c)(3) private foundation, FCEF relies heavily on industry donations—and while some leaders have stepped forward, there's room for much more support.

Don Roberts of Don's Carpet One exemplifies the kind of commitment FCEF needs, contributing $100 monthly per location. Other champions include Deb DeGraff at DeGraff Interiors and Donnie Phillips at Atlanta Flooring and Design. Yet with roughly 10,000 independent retailers across the US, current participation represents less than 0.5% of potential supporters.

Founding FCEF partners have stepped up with large ongoing donations, including Engineered Floors, Mohawk, Shaw and the World Floor Covering Association. Companies such as Cali, International Flooring Company, and Distributor Midwest committed to give one cent per square foot of certain flooring collections sold to FCEF.

"The flooring industry is experiencing transformative changes, from technological advancements to products, and we recognize the significance of nurturing skilled talent to meet the evolving demands of the market," said Bob Kilinski, chief sales and marketing officer at Centricity, which donated $50,000 to FCEF’s cause.

A Race Against Time

Aaron's message to the industry is clear: waiting is not an option. "The pain point hasn't gotten to them yet...Until this is a fire alarm issue, it's not going to get their attention," he warned. "But by then, it will be too late."

Despite operating with just four team members, FCEF has created a model that combines national coordination with grassroots implementation. They work closely with local retailers and industry professionals, recognizing that success requires both national resources and local engagement. "Today is the day,” Whitener said. “Now is the time. We won't get this moment back if we're not successful.”

Taking Action

For those ready to support FCEF's mission, the foundation offers multiple paths to get involved:

Monthly donations through fcef.org
Participation in programs like Cali's penny-per-foot initiative
Local engagement through high school outreach
Connecting with community colleges to establish new programs

With nearly half a million dollars already invested in scholarships and an 82% industry placement rate, FCEF has proven its model works. The question now isn't whether their approach is effective—it's whether the industry will step up to help them scale it in time to meet the growing demand for skilled installers.

For more information about supporting FCEF's mission, visit fcef.org.

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

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Tanja Kern is the associate publisher and editorial director of FLOOR Trends & Installation. She is also the host of the FLOORtalk podcast, where she explores the changes and challenges facing the flooring community's thought leaders and creatives. Tanja has been writing about business, design, and lifestyle for two decades, and her work has appeared in publications such as American Way, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Interiors, Fodor's, Food Channel, CA Modern, Chicago, Fine Interiors, and Los Angeles.

Beth Miller began her journalistic journey in 2005 while still working as a mechanic in her dad’s garage. She has written about everything from artists to WWII veterans and in 2010 stepped into the healthcare sector where she created digital content for 11 years. She, then, received her master’s degree in English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 2017, she took the leap into the flooring industry. Here, she has discovered a place where she can apply both her technical and journalistic abilities.