Chris Davis
Anaheim, Calif.—The late Chris Davis, former CEO of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), and Keith Campbell, current chairman of Mannington Mills, will be inducted into the WFCA Hall of Fame sometime during 2014.
The industry lost a powerful voice and catalyst for improvement when Davis passed away suddenly in February 2012. In the short time he was a member of the flooring industry, Davis left a lasting impression that will be recognized for decades to come.
Davis became CEO of Western Floor Covering Association in 1994 and quickly implemented the merger of the organization with the American Floorcovering Association in January of the following year. Through this merger the WFCA was born.
In an effort to enhance the professionalism and profitability across all channels of the flooring industry—and recognizing the potential to grow membership, Davis launched benefits like the trade scholarship program. This initiative alone helped the association grow membership by over 40%.
Davis also breathed new life into the flooring industry through the launch of a consumer awareness campaign designed to educate consumers about flooring and its impact on residential interior designs. The campaign, which is still running more than 10 years later, included the launch of a non-commercial, unbiased website dedicated to flooring and geared entirely to the consumer; an extensive marketing campaign with a far-reaching line-up of some of the largest and most respected consumer magazines on the market; and a public relations program that continues to help the industry reach hundreds of millions of consumers across the country each year. Many of the initiatives launched by Davis have been recognized with national awards for excellence.
One of the more notable accomplishments in his career was the exponential growth of Surfaces, owned at the time by the WFCA, into one of the 50 largest trade shows in the world with attendance topping 40,000. Davis strategically negotiated the sale of the show at its pinnacle for $40 million while maintaining the association’s strategic positioning, including an exhibit discount for members and a top sponsorship position. This strategic maneuver placed WFCA in its most financially solid position in its history and, as such, the association will remain in a cash positive position for many years to come.
Davis also served as chairman of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF), a charitable organization dedicated to assisting members in the floor covering industry who experience catastrophic illnesses, severe disabilities or life altering hardships.
A lifetime in flooring
Keith Campbell
Campbell has spent his entire career at Mannington, which was founded by his great grandfather in 1915. He cut his teeth in the business working from the ground up in a wide variety of capacities. He joined the board of directors in 1983, which paved his way to becoming chairman 12 years later.
Under Campbell’s leadership, Mannington has experienced its greatest era of corporate growth, including two acquisitions: Burke Industries in 2008 and Amtico in 2012.
In addition to his corporate duties, Campbell is extremely active in multiple industry organizations and initiatives designed to help the overall industry. He is currently associate director of the WFCA and serves on the finance committee, a position he has held since 1996. Among other involvements, he serves on the board of the FCIF.
Campbell’s involvement in community activities is also vast. For over 23 years he has served as trustee of the John B. Campbell Family Fitness Center of Salem County, a non-profit facility that provides a full array of community services to local residents. He is also on the board of South Jersey Industries, an organization dedicated to climate change solutions and conserving energy. He also serves on the boards of many charities, including United Way and Ranch Hope for Boys.