The Floor Installation Association of North America (FIANA) and International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) recently held joint conventions in New Orleans. Both organizations shared a trip to USG’s facility in the area, and FIANA opened its tradeshow on one of the days to CFI attendees. This sharing of convention resources marks the first such partnership between FIANA, which turned 20 this year, and CFI, which turned 21.

We had the chance to sit down with both Doug Ray, FIANA’s president and chairman, and Jim Walker, CFI’s CEO, to discuss how this partnership came about, what they felt about the show and where they think the industry is heading. Look for full coverage on both conventions in an upcoming next issue.