Surfaces photos: Day 1

D. Christopher Davis, president and ceo of the World Floor Covering Association (right), presents a check for $5,000 to Sam Presnell of The Rug Gallery in Cincinatti after his store was named the WFCA Gold Standard Retailer of the Year.

Following are images from day 1 of Surfaces 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Aron Ralston opened Surfaces 2011 with a general session that focused on his harrowing experience of being trapped for almost six days in a remote canyon, and the life-altering decision he made to free himself.

Bliss by Beaulieu unveiled its new consumer website at Surfaces. Pictured are Mike McAllister, Bliss' vp marketing information systems (left), and Michael Johnson, account director of marketing firm Definition, which helped design the site.

The New Product Showcase is sponsored by NFT, FCI and TILE Magazine.

Xavier Steyaert, IVC US ceo, stands next to Nostalgia, a wood-look concept collection.

Michael Chmielecki wrote about the floor covering industry for BNP Media for more than ten years. As editor of Floor Covering Installer and senior editor of Floor Trends, he always sought ways to better connect and inform the installation and contracting community. Mike has a degree in journalism from the University of New Hampshire.