Last month FCW celebrated its 15th Annual GreenStep Sustainability Awards program. It is indeed one of my favorite industry events. It’s intimate — the year’s winners and honorees are present along with a small FCW team. Here, we present the awards and then hear from each recipient a bit about the initiative that earned them a GreenStep Award.
So many of the investments and efforts being made to keep the flooring industry at the forefront of sustainability are often done behind the scenes and aren’t really in the view of the customer or even other industry members. GreenStep was created to shine a light on what is being done and there are great strides being made.
There is an openness to sharing in the room at GreenStep and allowing “competitors” behind the curtain to learn about unique strategies and approaches that create a more sustainable product, process and world in general.
In many cases, some of the leaders taking the podium are not customer facing. It is a great opportunity for us to acknowledge their contributions to the greater good and give them the floor to accept well-deserved kudos. The stories they tell are rich and impactful and we look forward to welcoming new faces each year.
This year’s recipients included Mohawk, Tarkett, Shaw, HMTX, Atiyeh International, Interface, CFL and Benchwick.
FCW is simply the host. We leave it to the experts to judge the entries. This year, judging was done by the heads of industry associations including Scott Humphrey, WFCA; Michael Martin, NWFA; Bart Bettiga, NTCA; and, Bill Blackstock, RFCI. This year, David Carey, senior vice president of public affairs and communications at Hearst joined the panel. Judging 30 entries across six categories is a time consuming undertaking and we appreciate the care they take in diving deep into the full entries and selecting their candidate. Thank you! We also are pleased to have The International Surface Event (TISE) as our program sponsor.
I say it every year but there is is so much heart in the room. It is the very best of our industry. Congratulations to all who were in attendance! We enjoyed recognizing and celebrating you.
In addition, for the second year, FCW’s GreenStep program has partnered with Surfaces for the GreenStep Sustainability Lounge where this year’s winners and honorees will be showcased on the show floor in January 2024.
The week in Georgia, in fact, was filled with heart as the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) came together for a Board Meeting and the annual Alan Greenberg Golf Outing that raises funds for those in the industry facing debilitating medical conditions and financial hardship. Having a foundation within the industry that benefits those who have contributed to its success is a unique proposition and one we should all be proud of. The golf outing alone, sponsored by CCA Global, raised $140,000 for the FCIF. Events such as this, the gala held every few years and local events drive fundraising but there is an opportunity to learn more about the foundation and donate at fcif.org.
The Women in the Flooring Industry (WIFI) also held its Board Meeting.Similar to Floor Covering Weekly’s GreenStep Award, there is diversity of companies sitting around the table that may compete out in the marketplace but here, each board member is aligned in the purpose to attract, educate and empower current and future women in the floor covering industry.
So much has been achieved already by this mighty group from online Power Hours to a robust mentorship program and several in-person events that offer learning opportunities. As a 501c3 non-profit, WIFI is laser focused on programs that develop the next generation of women leaders in the industry. Current donors include FCW/Hearst, Mohawk, Shaw, Mannington, CALI, Louisville Tile, Southwind, WFCA and Engineered Floors. As well, industry events have generously hosted programs to further develop WIFI’s purpose.If you are attending NAFCD, be sure to sign up for the event to be held there. For more information on WIFI, visit womeninflooring.org
Despite headwinds caused by high interest rates and a generally soft economy, this industry continues to show its heart by investing in the things that matter most to all stakeholders, including the customer.
Stay safe. Stay inspired.