2025 Synergy Convention & Expo - Education. Connection. Innovation.

The Certified Flooring Installers (CFI), the Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association (FCICA), Flooring Consultants and Inspection Training Services (FCITS) and Floor Covering Business 2 Business (FCB2B) are excited to share they held a successful Synergy Convention & Expo, September 16 - 18 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, TN - the 3rd year FCICA and CFI have partnered for the joint convention and the first year for new partners, FCITS and FCB2B.

Flooring industry professionals across all spectrums - contractors, distributors, installers, manufacturers, retailers, inspectors, consultants and flooring industry organizations - attended three full days featuring dynamic keynote speakers, 14 education sessions, six product demonstrations, an Expo showcasing 50 exhibitors, two Sponsor Spotlights, organization presentations, committee meetings and ample networking opportunities. All held to advance the success of the Synergy host’s membership and put into action a shared mission to provide education and support to advance the floor covering industry and its people.

On Tuesday evening, the official event opened with the Welcome Reception, sponsored by Mohawk / Performance Accessories. Convention attendees reunited, networked and enjoyed an evening of commercial flooring camaraderie. Early Tuesday afternoon arrivals were able to attend two pre-event sessions - Where Technology and Installation Collide presented by Paul Stuart, CEO, Skilled Pro Alliance Inc. followed by Leadership When It Matters Most presented by Scott Humphrey, CEO, WFCA and Darren Harrison, Owner, Sunshine Interiors. Unilin held their product demo, the first of five demonstrations. Other attendees opted for a morning of golf.

Wednesday, Day One of the Convention opened with a bang – a dynamic Opening Keynote from Dan Thurmon, Founder and President of Motivation Works, Inc. with his presentation, Perform-Ability: Embracing Uncertainty, Navigating Change and https://www.laticrete.com/Taking Bold Action. Brief industry updates followed where attendees learned about each of the host organizations and how they work to support the flooring industry. The day continued with four education sessions: Installer to Influencer presented by Mohawk; Sourcewell 101 - How Does it All Work? presented by James Burge, Senior Supplier Development Executive, Sourcewell; Exploring Best Practices on Tile Installation presented by Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF); and Avoiding LVT Gaps Through Product Knowledge, Adhesive Design and Application presented by Kevin Phillips, Director of Technical Services, Novalis Innovative Flooring. Women in Flooring Industry (WIFI) held a panel session titled Leadership Balancing Act. Our Titanium and Platinum Sponsors each presented Sponsor Spotlights: Setting Up Your Subfloor for Success presented by Mohawk and Discover the Full Power of TotalWorx Accessories presented by Shaw Industries/TotalWorx. Later that afternoon the Synergy Expo opened to all attendees. The Expo featured exhibitors representing leaders in manufacturing, distribution, retail, flooring technology and industry organizations. There attendees networked and conducted business. Thank you to all the exhibitors that participated in the Expo. The day concluded with Beats, Boots and a BBQ dinner reception, complete with a well known singer, country star impersonators and a caricature artist.

Day Two opened with the Closing Keynote, Looking Ahead: Navigating What’s Next for the Flooring Industry, presented by Ron Nash, President and COO, LATICRETE North America. Silent auction donors were then invited to the stage to briefly present on their company and product donations.

Day Two featured five product demos from Välinge Innovation, Loba-Wakol, LATICRETE, QEP / Roberts / Microban and TEC Specialty Products. Throughout the day, attendees had six education session to attend: Complaint Prevention and What to do (and not do) When you Have a Claim presented by Evan Lauridsen, Owner, Lauridsen Consultancy Group; Construction Subcontracts and AI presented by Sloan Bailey, Attorney, Bailey Law Partners, LLP; FCITS Round Table Discussion with Manufacturer Claims Managers; Floor Repair Clinic: Carpet, Resilient, Laminate and LVP presented by Joe Cea, Field Installation Specialist, Congoleum; Dave Garden, Master Instructor, WFCA and Roland Thompson, Owner, Thompson Flooring & Installation; The Science of Adhesive Bonding for Luxury Vinyl Tile presented by Jeffrey Johnson, FCIS Business and Marketing Director, MAPEI Corporation; and An Introduction to AI Tools for Everyday Use presented by Aaron G. Abbott, Senior Technical Product Manager, LATICRETE.

During Wednesday’s Awards Lunch, the golf awards were distributed and the 50/50 raffle winner, Expo traffic builder and TISE winner names were pulled. Thereafter, FCICA, CFI and FCITS each presented awards recognizing member and member companies for their support, generosity and commitment to advancing the flooring industry. Attendees placed their final bids that afternoon. $26,000 was raised thanks to the generous contributions from the silent auction donors. Day Two closed with a relaxed evening dinner reception followed by an optional Nashville Broadway bar tour.

The partnering Synergy organizations are grateful to the event attendees, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors and donors. A special thank you to Titanium Sponsor, Mohawk/Performance Accessories, Platinum Sponsor, Shaw Industries/Totalworx and Gold Sponsor, MAPEI Corporation for their generous support. Thank you to our silent auction donors - your generous contributions realized $26,000. Thank you to Networking Break Sponsor, Sika Corporation, Keycard Sponsor, TEC Specialty Products, Golf Sponsor, i4F Patents &Technologies and Demo Set Up Sponsor, Fishman Flooring Solutions. And very special thank you to all our education session presenters for sharing your expertise and industry knowledge - education is a core tenet of our organizational missions and meeting objectives.

About the Synergy Convention & Expo - The Synergy Convention & Expo is the premier collaborative event for the flooring industry, bringing together professionals from installation, contracting, inspection, education, manufacturing, distribution and technology. Representing the combined efforts of CFI, FCICA, FCITS and FCB2B, Synergy is dedicated to advancing the industry through education, connection and innovation. The multi-day event offers targeted training, certifications, emerging technologies, leadership development and business networking - all designed to strengthen and elevate the flooring community.

FCICA, (Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association), a nonprofit trade organization formed in 1982, is the resource for premier commercial flooring contractors. Its mission and commitment to the floor covering industry is - ‘We help make commercial flooring contractors successful through expert education, sharing best practices and professional networking.’ FCICA provides technical education, business support and industry expert networking; delivers skills and knowledge to enhance the professionalism of commercial flooring contractors and promotes the advancement and continuous development of Certified Installation Managers (CIM). FCICA is an international association comprised of contractors, manufactures, distributors and consultants from the U.S. and abroad. Learn more at fcica.com.

CFI (Certified Flooring Installers)The International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI), a division of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), is the industry’s leading organization for professional flooring installation training and certification. Since 1993, CFI has certified thousands of installers worldwide across all major flooring categories — including carpet, hardwood, resilient, laminate and ceramic. CFI’s comprehensive programs cover installation, estimating, inspection, patterned and woven carpet, and product knowledge. Through a national network of experienced trainers, CFI is dedicated to raising installation standards, supporting career growth, and delivering skilled craftsmanship for dealers and manufacturers across the flooring industry. Learn more at cfionline.org.

FCITS (Flooring Consultants and Inspection Training Services) Flooring Consultants and Inspection Training Services (FCITS), a division of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), is the industry’s leading provider of flooring inspection education, certification, and technical support. Established in 1988, FCITS has trained over 2,000 inspectors worldwide and is recognized for its in-depth curriculum and hands-on training programs in carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate, and more. FCITS equips flooring professionals with the expertise to assess product performance, resolve claims, and uphold quality standards across the industry. Learn more at fcits.org.

FCB2B (Floor Covering Business-to-Business) Floor Covering Business-to-Business (FCB2B), a program overseen and supported by the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), is the digital backbone of the flooring industry. This standards-based initiative streamlines electronic communications between manufacturers, distributors, and flooring retailers — enabling more efficient transactions, inventory management, and data sharing. By enhancing connectivity and reducing manual errors, FCB2B helps companies increase productivity, improve accuracy, and remain competitive in today’s fast-paced marketplace. Learn more at fcb2b.org.

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