The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (FCICA) recently held its annual convention in the exquisite Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans’ French Quarter. While the venue alone was worth the trip, the real point was to attend the nonprofit association’s one-of-a-kind show, since it’s the only group that focuses solely on the needs of the installation manager.
This year’s event boasted a record-setting 154 attendees, including 54 first-time attendees and 31 tabletop vendors. Networking is a priority for this group, and there were several opportunities for it throughout the day -- from the welcoming reception to the meals that were enjoyed as a group. “It was an opportunity to meet others in our field and learn something from each other,” said Amy Johnston, estimator, scheduling assistant and in-house project manager of Flooring Services, Inc. “Just having conversations on breaks and talking about the trade and tools we use gave me insight to techniques I would not have thought of; tricks of the trade per se.”