Press Releases Archive
The North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors Announces 2007 Board of Directors
(October 21, 2006) --
CHICAGO – The North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) announced its 2007 Board of Directors during the Annual Membership Meeting and Award’s Luncheon on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at the NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting in Palm Springs (Indian Wells), Calif. The new executive officers and directors will assume their leadership roles on November 1, 2006.
Executive Officers for 2007 who will serve a term of one year include Christophe Freed, president, (J.H. Freed & Sons, San Diego, Calif.); Al Maghes, vice president, (Erickson’s Flooring & Supply Co., Ferndale, Mich.); Jack Lindenschmidt, treasurer, (Interstate Supply Company, St. Louis, Mo.); Fred Reitz, secretary, (J.J. Haines & Company, Inc., Glen Burnie, Md.) and Stephen Johnson, immediate past president, (Butler-Johnson Corporation, San Jose, Calif.).
New directors who will serve a three-year term include Tom Giancani (Torly’s Inc., Ontario, Canada); Steve Kerr (Shawmark Floors – A Division of Shaw Industries, Inc., Dalton, Ga.); Brad Vollrath (W.G. McMahon Canada Ltd., Manitoba, Canada) and David Williams (Horizon Forest Products, Raleigh, N.C.).
Directors who are serving two-year terms include Art Layton (CMH Flooring Products, Wadesboro, N.C.); Steve Rosenthal (All Tile Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill.); Jim Sturla (Medallion dba Sturla Inc., San Leandro, Calif.) and Robert Wagner (L. Fishman & Son, Inc., Baltimore, Md.).
Directors who are serving one-year terms include Daniel Kahn (Irvin Kahn & Son, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.); Ray Mancini (The Belknap White Group, Mansfield, Mass.); Charlie Martin (Halex Corporation, Lemont, Ill.); Dennis Mohn (Alloc, Inc., Racine, Wis.) and Terry Moorhead (Bennett Supply Company, Cheswick, Penn.).
Lastly, NAFCD would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those retiring from the Board of Directors for their tireless efforts to promote the welfare of all NAFCD members and the association. They include Lucky Burke (Reader’s Wholesales Distributors, Ltd., Houston, Texas); Dennis Jarosz (Congoleum Corporation, Mercerville, N.J.); Harvey Johnson (Mastercraft Flooring Distributors, Miami, Fla.); Melinda McChesney (Johnson Wholesale Floors, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.); Brian Radditz (Wanke Cascade, Portland, Ore.) and Scott Hendricks (Central Distributors, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa).
For more information about NAFCD or its officers or board members, contact NAFCD Headquarters, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267; Phone: 312.321.6836; Email: info@nafcd.org; or visit the NAFCD Web site.
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The North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors Announces Future Leader of the Year Award
(October 21, 2006) --
CHICAGO -- The North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) named Jan Clinite of the Interstate Supply Company, St. Louis, Miss., as its Future Leader of the Year during the Annual Membership Meeting and Award’s Luncheon, held October 21 at NAFCD’s 35th Annual Meeting in Palm Springs (Indian Wells), Calif. The prestigious award recognizes executives younger than 40 years old with the potential to successfully lead their distributor organization in future years. As a result of this honor, Clinite will receive a scholarship to attend the upcoming Spring 2007 University of Industrial Distribution (UID) program at the Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis, Ind.
Jan Clinite is the Director of Marketing and Product Development at the Interstate Supply Company in St. Louis, Miss. Prior to this position, she was a management consultant at Reed, Joseph & Company. Clinite holds a bachelor of science in marketing/advertising from Indiana University and an MBA in marketing.
Clinite has the outstanding business talent coupled with the ability to interact with supervisors, peers and subordinates to achieve goals. After only four years with the company, she has joined the corporate executive management team and has established the development of the company’s marketing department.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Clinite serves as the president of the 15th Ward Democrats, on the Junior League of St. Louis, treasurer of the Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association and deacon at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church.
“This is an exciting time to be involved in the floor covering industry,” Clinite states. “New products, changing manufacturers and evolving retail models require distributors to be flexible and innovative in their approach. Interstate Supply Company has an established record of success, and I look forward to helping us maintain our leadership position in the coming years.”
As for being named NAFCD’s Future Leader of the Year, Clinite states that “any opportunity for me to learn more about distribution and the floor covering industry is a great benefit to me as my role with the company expands and evolves.” She commented that attending the NAFCD 2005 Management Conference was invaluable. Clinite continues, “The discussions led by the professors were very informative, and I especially benefited from sharing ideas and perspectives with other floor covering distributors.”
NAFCD is proud to provide educational, research and training programs to improve and enhance high standards of efficiency in the floor covering industry. For more information on the NAFCD Future Leader of the Year Award, contact NAFCD Headquarters, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267; 312.321.6836; email: info@nafcd.org, or visit our Web site.
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North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors Announces Successful Launch of Inaugural NAFCD Distributor Marketplace
(October 21, 2006) --
CHICAGO – The North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) announced a successful launch of its inaugural NAFCD Distributor Marketplace on Saturday, October 21 during the Annual Membership Meeting and Award’s Luncheon at the organization’s 35th Annual Meeting in Palm Springs (Indian Wells), Calif.
This once-a-year tradeshow offers an intimate opportunity for distributors and manufacturers to focus on the business issues and solutions unique to selling in today's market. In its inaugural year, the show floor was sold out with more than 70 exhibitors participating. (Please see the Fact Sheet for additional information.)
The NAFCD Distributor Marketplace was held in conjunction with the NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting (October 19-21) at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Palm Springs (Indian Wells), Calif. The Annual Meeting is one of the premier networking forums and educational resources for distributors and suppliers of floor covering materials. An outstanding line-up of world-class speakers focusing on a wide range of business-related subjects, a full slate of informative and interactive breakout sessions, and several networking and social events that will prepare members of the floor covering industry for the future are highlights of the event.
For more information about the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace and the NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting, contact NAFCD Headquarters, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267; 312.321.6836; email: info@nafcd.org or visit the NAFCD Web site.
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NAFCD Distributor Marketplace Fact Sheet
(August 31, 2005) --
Q: What is the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace?
A: A once-a-year tradeshow offering an intimate opportunity for distributors and manufacturers to do business. Held in conjunction with the NAFCD Annual Meeting, the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace will connect manufacturers with qualified buyers in a time-and-expense efficient forum allowing manufacturers and distributors to maximize their investment across all industry events.
Q: How will the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace differ from other industry trade shows?
A: The NAFCD Distributor Marketplace will focus on distributor issues and a quality exchange of solutions, networking and problem solving. This will actually allow both manufacturers and distributors to be more focused, aligned and effective at other trade shows such as Surfaces.
Q: What are the benefits of the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace for distributors and manufacturers?
A: The NAFCD Distributor Marketplace is designed to make selling easier and more effective for manufacturers. For a small investment, manufacturer exhibitors reap big returns through qualified distributor buyers who represent billions in purchasing power.
In addition, the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace sets the stage for other industry trade shows by freeing distributors to sell for manufacturers. By using the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace as a forum for product education and selling strategies, manufacturers may strengthen their distribution channel and improve sales at other industry trade shows.
Q: Why is NAFCD launching a new trade show?
A: NAFCD's purpose is to foster trade and commerce of its members – both distributors and manufacturers. As the industry sales channels and tradeshows have changed and evolved, NAFCD identified the need for a more intimate opportunity for distributors to interface with manufacturers. NAFCD canvassed its members, collected information on existing shows and found that current events don’t meet the need for channel specific, manageable events which allow for one-on-one meetings. The NAFCD Distributor Marketplace is designed to fill this gap in the existing industry selling channels.
Q: When and where will the first NAFCD Distributor Marketplace be held?
A: The inaugural NAFCD Distributor Marketplace will be held October 19-20, 2006, in conjunction with the NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting, October 19-21, 2006 in Indian Wells, Calif.
For more information about the NAFCD Distributor Marketplace, contact NAFCD Headquarters, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267; 312.321.6836; email: info@nafcd.org or visit the NAFCD Web site.
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National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) Changes Association Name at 35th Annual Meeting
(October 21, 2006) --
CHICAGO – The National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) recently voted to change the association's name to be the North American Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) during the Annual Membership Award’s Luncheon and Meeting at the NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting, held October 19-21 in Palm Springs (Indian Wells), Calif.
In recent years, several floor covering distribution companies from outside the United States joined the NAFCD as members, prompting the organization to change its name. The new name allows the inclusion of member companies from all North American countries, not just the United States. Even with the name change, NAFCD will retain its logo and brand recognition.
“We appreciate the support of our neighbors from the North and the South,” said Stephen Johnson, NAFCD’s immediate past president. “We are all professionals that share a common background. It only made sense to change our name to support them.”
“Our industry is a global marketplace,” NAFCD President Christophe Freed said. “We were more than happy to change our name to better reflect our membership. Our new connection with our colleagues from Canada and Mexico is exciting. I look forward to building new relationships with professionals I might not have been able to meet five years ago. This simple yet strategic change will benefit the association, our members and the industry.”
For more information about NAFCD, contact NAFCD Headquarters, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267; 312.321.6836; email: info@nafcd.org or visit the NAFCD Web site.
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2006 NAFCD Profitability Survey Results Released: Results to be Reviewed at NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting in Indian Wells, Calif.
(August 7, 2006) --
CHICAGO – In 2005, profit results for high-profit floor covering distributors hit a five-year peak, according to the annual survey conducted by the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD). The NAFCD Performance Index Report, the association's annual profitability study of participating members, offers business owners a check-point on exactly where his or her company stands in the market.
The new high in profit results is in part from distributors changing their product mix to include higher-profit items, according to Dr. Albert Bates, founder and chairman of The Profit Planning Group, Boulder, Colo., the independent research and executive education firm that conducts profitability research for more than 100 different trade associations in addition to NAFCD. Participating NAFCD members completed a confidential survey about their businesses and submitted it to The Profit Planning Group, which then formed an aggregate with other respondents and analyzed the data in terms of sales size, line of business, and the like. The study provides NAFCD members the best industry-specific data available to direct the budgeting and financial planning process.
"What was revealed in this year's profitability study is that if the typical firm is to move toward high profit, it must identify exactly how the successful firm produces superior results," says Dr. Bates.
In the survey (based on 2005 data), the typical floor covering distributor had sales of approximately $37 million and a pre-tax profit of 2.0 percent. In contrast, the high-profit firm had sales of approximately $43 million and a pre-tax profit of 4.2 percent. This means that if the typical firm with the same $37 million in sales could move into the high-profit category, it would generate a profit of $1.5 million, representing an additional 2.2 percent – or $819,324 – in profits every year. This sizeable difference leads to two major issues that NAFCD distributors need to address, according to Dr. Bates.
"The first is an examination of the determinants of high-profit performance; what are commonly called the critical profit variables (CPVs). The second is the development of some sort of action program for the firm to reach the high-profit level. Both issues need to be well understood by every firm in the industry," Dr. Bates comments.
He points out that while no firm does everything well, "What the high-profit firm typically does is generate better performance on the few factors that really count." Across a wide range of industries over the last 25 years, Dr. Bates comments, three measures continually appear at the top of the list of factors that must always be the focus of management attention: sales growth, gross margin and payroll expenses.
Helping distributors manage the money-making process is the subject of Dr. Bates' upcoming keynote session at the NAFCD 35th Annual Meeting & NAFCD Distributor Marketplace, to be held Oct. 19-21, 2006, at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif.
In "Making Money in a Tough Market," Dr. Bates will explain that generating adequate profits continues to be a major challenge in distribution. However, in every industry some firms stand out from the pack. This session will focus on how they do just that. It will suggest three actions that are essential:
- Creating Barriers to Entry – Competitive battles are not fought on every item on every transaction every single day. Instead, competition is waged between alternative business systems.
- Focusing on the Profit Drivers – There are only two factors that drive profitability in distribution. They are not the ones you think they are. This session will identify them and discuss how they can be improved.
- Ensuring the Internal Profit Understanding – There is a clear understanding within the decision-making ranks of how profit is generated or destroyed by employee actions.
In this session Dr. Bates will discuss how attendees can employ these key factors to achieve high-profit financial results.
For more information about the NAFCD Performance Index Report, contact NAFCD Headquarters, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267; 312.321.6836; email: info@nafcd.org or visit the NAFCD Web site.
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The National Association of Floor Covering Distributors Announces New Management Team
(January 23, 2006) --
CHICAGO -- The National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) has appointed a new management team to lead the association due to the recent retirement of long-time Executive Director Mariann B. Gregory. Serving as the new Executive Director is Maurice "Moe" Desmarais. Desmarais has served 25 years in association management, serving 16 years specifically in wholesale distribution as Executive Vice President of the New England Wholesalers Association and New York State Plumbing and Heating Wholesalers as well as Executive Director of the American Supply Association. He holds a masters degree in management from Cambridge College and is a Certified Association Executive.
Michelle Parilli Miller also joins the NAFCD management team as Operations Manager. Miller has over 17 years of operations, volunteer management and committee liaison experience. She has served as Manager of Member Services at the Chicago Board of Trade and has held various senior manager positions with several associations over the past five years.
Other current NAFCD Headquarters staff include: Sean Samet, NAFCD Membership Coordinator; Elisabeth Fleps, NAFCD Membership Assistant; Irene Condon, NAFCD Meeting and Conference Manager; Karolyn Farkas, Marketing and Communications Coordinator; and Brad Putz, NAFCD Distributor Marketplace Sales Manager.
"NAFCD has a very aggressive agenda for 2006, including a new strategic plan that calls for a sizable increase in activities, programs and services," stated Steve Johnson, NAFCD President and Vice President of Butler-Johnson Inc., San Jose, Calif. "I would like to thank Mariann for all of her hard work instrumentally organizing this strategic plan and leading us to where we are today. While we wish Mariann well in her future endeavors, I am confident that our new headquarters team will continue her dedication to the organization this year and beyond."
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The National Association of Floor Covering Distributors Announces Executive Director's Retirement
(January 23, 2006) --
CHICAGO -- Mariann B. Gregory, Executive Director of the National Association of Floor Covering Distributors (NAFCD) has recently announced her retirement. Gregory served NAFCD for 13 years providing leadership and management to the association. She was instrumental in organizing NAFCD's new strategic plan, including its inaugural NAFCD Distributor Marketplace to be held October 19-20, 2006.
"We are very grateful to Mariann for her leadership and guidance over these past 13 years. Both the volunteer leaders and members are deeply indebted to her faithful service to the association and the floor covering industry. Mariann was a friend, partner and counselor to the association and its members. We wish her well in her future endeavors," stated Scott Hendricks, of Central Distributors, Inc. and NAFCD Past President.
Gregory also was active in numerous industry associations including the Carpet Industry Issues Council, the National Association of Wholesalers (NAW), the Floor Covering Industry Foundation, the Floor Coverings Consumer Credit Association, and the Chicago Floor Covering Association.
Gregory is succeeded by Maurice "Moe" Desmarais as the association’s new Executive Director. Moe has served 25 years in association management, serving 16 years specifically in wholesale distribution as Executive Vice President of the New England Wholesalers Association and New York State Plumbing and Heating Wholesalers as well as Executive Director of the American Supply Association. He holds a masters degree in management from Cambridge College and is a Certified Association Executive.
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