Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), has announced he is stepping down.

Walker is a founding member of CFI, and, along with being its only CEO until now, helped lead the tremendous growth of the organization for the last 22 years.

Succeeding Walker will be Robert Varden, CFI’s executive director. 

Varden said he not only looks to expand the reach of CFI’s training, but to also build new relationships with manufacturers, retailers, distributors, etc., in order to communicate the importance of professional installation.

As part of the restructuring, CFI’s national office has relocated to 12201 W. 88th St., Lenexa, Kan., 66215.

For more, call (816) 231-4646 or visit cfiinstallers.com.

(Editor’s note: Floor Trends will have a more detailed story on this transition in a future issue.)