Sea Island, Ga.—The Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s (RFCI) spring 2022 board of directors and associate member meeting held here was a resounding success, according to the group. Over 100 attended the two-day event, held here April 27-28.
“Never before in our history has this event been so well attended,” said retiring president and CEO, Dean Thompson.
The RFCI annual spring meeting welcomed board members including Herb Upton, Shaw, chairman and Russ Rogg, HMTX/Metroflor, secretary/treasurer. Joining them were representatives from all manufacturing and supply chain members and a roster of top speakers, including Connor Lokar, ITR Economics; Dr. Kermit Baker, AIA; Stuart Hirschorn, Catalina Research; Jim Aaron, Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF); Amish Thakker, Bain & Company; Ned Monroe, Vinyl Institute; Dr. Mauro F. Guillén, Cambridge Judge Business School; Paul Wellner, Deloitte; and Marc Brackett, Ph. D., Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.
The RFCI annual spring meeting also included a special retirement dinner for Thompson, RFCI president emeritus, and his wife Shirley. “During Dean’s tenure of leadership, RFCI has become a leading voice for the resilient flooring industry and the North American flooring industry as a whole,” said Bill Blackstock, president and CEO of RFCI. “Our job is as challenging as it is simple: continue the legacy.”
Speakers at the “Special Evening Tribute” included:
- Blackstock, president and CEO, RFCI
- Tom Davis, formerly with Mannington
- Bill Freeman, formerly with RFCI
- Harlan Stone, HMTX
- Bart Rogers, Roppe
- Dick Heinle, Formosa
- Allison Foley, Venable LLP
- Ned Monroe, Vinyl Institute
- Jane Rohde, RFCI
- Teresa Williford, RFCI
- Steve McEntee, Penn Color
- Herb Upton, Shaw and RFCI chairman
- Curt Thompson, Dean’s son.